True Gospel, True Servant

Galatian Liberty • Galatians 1:10-12 • March 27, 2022 • English Service 10:00 AM

 

Sermon Introduction

Paul explained the severity of believing a distorted gospel. It is the same as deserting the God who called them into the grace of Christ. Moreover, with strong emphasis, pronounced a curse on all who preach another gospel. Not even an angel from heaven has the right to preach a different gospel, nor any person. Anyone who does, sets himself upon a path to destruction, which is the meaning of cursed. Therefore, all who believe in Christ must make sure that they believe in the genuine gospel as revealed in all Scripture, not just portions of it. And those who preach it must preach it according to Christ’s instructions, not man’s. Paul would further explain that the gospel he preached comes from Christ directly, and those who knew Christ personally, Peter and the others, confirmed Paul’s message.

Dr. Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

 
 
 

Galatians 1:10-12 ESV

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Notes

Paul explained the severity of believing a distorted gospel. It is the same as deserting the God who called them into the grace of Christ. Moreover, with strong emphasis, pronounced a curse on all who preach another gospel. Not even an angel from heaven has the right to preach a different gospel, nor any person. Anyone who does, sets himself upon a path to destruction, which is the meaning of cursed. Therefore, all who believe in Christ must make sure that they believe in the genuine gospel as revealed in all Scripture, not just portions of it. And those who preach it must preach it according to Christ’s instructions, not man’s. Paul would further explain that the gospel he preached comes from Christ directly, and those who knew Christ personally, Peter and the others, confirmed Paul’s message.

  1. True servant of God
    Paul asked a rhetorical question. Did he seek man’s approval or God’s? Because if Paul sought to please man, he is not a servant of God, but man’s (1:10). Therefore, all who claim to serve Christ should seek His approval, not man’s.
    10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

  2. God’s gospel, not man’s
    Paul made it clear that the gospel he preached to the Galatians was not man’s gospel (1:11). Those who preach another gospel or those who distort the gospel are not from God. True servants of God preach His gospel.
    11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.

  3. Revealed by Christ
    Paul did not learn the gospel from man, but he received it through Christ’s revelation (1:12). Paul probably referred to the Damascus road event when Christ appeared to him in a blinding light (Acts 9:1-7).
    12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Application

  1. Seek to please God, not man
    Let us not seek the approval of man but God’s. One way is to believe the gospel of Christ as revealed in Scripture. Those who believe in a distorted gospel do not have God's approval.

  2. Preserve the gospel
    The gospel belongs to God, not man nor angels. Therefore, no one has the right to make changes to it. Instead, we should preserve the purity of the gospel. Anyone who distorts is cursed, but all who preserve it are true servants of God.

  3. Proclaim the gospel accurately
    The apostles confirmed Paul’s gospel message, which he received from Christ. And which they wrote about, which we find in the NT. Let us confirm the gospel we believe in through Scriptures, and let us preach accurately.

Reflection & Discussion

  1. What is a true servant of God as revealed in the text?

  2. In what ways may a person unknowingly make changes in the gospel?

  3. How may we confirm if the gospel we believe in is accurate?