INTRODUCTION: The Apostle Paul was shocked. He marveled that the Galatians had so quickly left the pure teachings of Christ and His gospel in order to follow another gospel. But this other gospel is still with us today. It always starts with the gospel of Christ. Then, it simply adds something, anything, to that gospel. Be sure that you have the pure gospel as your foundation for eternal life.
- THE TRUE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
- Its Outline
- The death of Christ for our sins
- The burial of Christ
- The resurrection of Christ
- Its Authority
- According to the scriptures
- Scriptures refer to the holy writings of God: compare scribble, inscribe, inscription, etc.
- Scripture is our authority for all doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16)
- Not based on other authorities
- Not Tradition: the authority of mans long-time practice (Matthew 15:1-9, esp. verses 3,6,9; Colossians 2:8)
- Not Philosophy: the authority of mans greatest wisdom (Colossians 2:8; Acts 17:18, with verses 16,22,23)
- Not Science: the authority of observable facts and repeatable physical laws (1 Timothy 6:20)
- Not Scholarship: the authority of academic learning and agreed upon knowledge (2 Timothy 3:7; Isaiah 29:9-12)
- Not Experience: the authority of personal experience (Romans 10:2-3)
- THE END OF THE TRUE GOSPEL
- The Offer of Salvation
- The Reception of Salvation
- As an event (John 3:3-7; John 5:24)
- Through the gospel (Romans 1:16; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:13)
- THE OTHER GOSPEL
- The Same Elements: Which is not another
- Accepts the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
- Claims to come to Jesus by faith in Him
- The Difference
- Does not directly subtract from the gospel
- Rather adds to the gospel
- The problem of the Galatians (Galatians 3:1-3; Galatians 4:4-11; Galatians 6:12-13)
- The teaching of the Judiazers (Acts 15:1, 5)
- THE EVILS OF THE OTHER GOSPEL
- A Message Accursed (Galatians 1:8-9)
- Subtraction by Addition
- By adding to the requirements for salvation, they deny the sufficiency of the gospel
- Faith in the work of Christ becomes faith in their own works (Galatians 5:4)
- Works of Man Insufficient to Save
- Works of the Law (Galatians 2:16)
- Works of Righteousness (Titus 3:5)
- Another Gospel Hides the True Gospel
- Faith in works denies the work of Christ (Romans 4:4-5)
- Man remains in his lost condition
CONCLUSION: Art Thou Born Again? – John Berridge (1716-1793) was well known as an evangelical English preacher. “His preaching had a ‘rustic homeliness.’ His main points were boldly underlined. Tall and thin in appearance, he had an iron constitution, but at the end he was alone, blind, and deaf. Yet, Berridge testified, ‘Lord, if I have thy presence and love, that sufficeth.’…
“On Berridge’s grave were words of characteristic testimony:
‘Here lie the earthly remains of John Berridge: Late Vicar of Everton, and an itinerant servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and His work, and after running on his errands many years was called to wait on Him above. Reader: Art thou born again? No Salvation without New Birth!’ ”
