Chapter 1

Session 1: Distortion of
the Gospel
 Introduction
A. The Nature of Truth
Have you heard this argument ?
“It does not matter what you
believe as long as you are sincere”

What is wrong with that approach?

1. You can be sincere and be sincerely wrong!
Right now the philosophy is,
Let us accept everything: PLURALISM

Christianity is the statement which if

false is of no importance. If true, it is of
infinite importance. The one thing it
cannot be is moderately important.
-C.S.Lewis
Religious pluralism is the state of
being where every individual in a
religiously diverse society has the
rights, freedoms, and safety to
worship, or not, according to their
conscience. This definition is
founded in the American motto e
pluribus unum, that we, as a
nation, are gathered together as
one out of many.
2. If Christianity is true, it is infinite
importance
TRUTH is very inclusive and
3. __________
exclusive Today in
universities..State..the Philippines,
they are teaching people that there
is..
…No such thing as ABSOLUTE TRUTH…
Everything is relative…
B. Background of the Book of Galatians

1. Main Theme : Defending the

GOSPEL
 The word GOSPEL means
EVANGELIO which means GOOD
NEWS
 2.Outline of the Book of Galatians
Chapter General Outline Chapter Themes

1 Distortion of the Gospel Defense of the Gospel

Defense of his
(Paul’s)Authority
2 Deliberation with leaders
Definition of the Gospel
3 Law and The Gospel
4 Legalism and the Gospel
5 Freedom and the Gospel Demonstration of the
6 Holy Spirit and the Gospel
Gospel
C. Your faith must be based on TRUTH ..

When it is based on truth it will do

..

something in your life ; it change your

life… behavior follows

The Bible says..

‘...you shall know the truth and the truth
will set you free (John8:32)’
II. The Defense of Paul’s Authority and
the Distortion of the Gospel

A. The Defense of Paul’s Authority

Galatians 1:1-4
Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by
man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father,
who raised him from the dead-- [2] and all
the brothers with me,
To the churches in Galatia:
[3] Grace and peace to you from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who
gave himself for our sins to rescue us from
the present evil age, according to the will of
our God and Father,
How did he establish his authority?
GOD
1. Not sent from men.. But _______
2. Jesus came not only to..
..die for sins
SAVE from the power of
..also came to _______us
sin?
Galatians 1:4
who gave himself for our sins to rescue
us from the present evil age, according to
the will of our God and Father,
Have you been delivered from the
power of sin?

B. The Distortion of the Gospel

Galatians 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--
What was the problem?

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

1. The Problem was somebody was

DISTORTING
_______________the Gospel !
If the Gospel was distorted in the time
of the apostle Paul… how much more
today? Is the Gospel distorted?

Galatians 1:8
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!
2. NO ONE can change the Gospel
a. We ( the apostles ) cannot change the
Gospel
ANGEL cannot change the
b. An __________
Gospel
Galatians 1:9
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!
C. The True Gospel

What is the true Gospel?

1 Cor. 15:1-4
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of
the gospel I preached to you, which you
received and on which you have taken your
stand. [2] By this gospel you are saved, if
you hold firmly to the word I preached to
you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
[3] For what I received I passed on to you
as of first importance: that Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that
he was buried, that he was raised on the
third day according to the Scriptures,
1. Jesus Christ DIED for our sins..
…because as far as God is concerned, the
root problem of humanity is sin.
2. Jesus Christ was BURIED
3. Jesus Christ ___________________
ROSE
again:
Resurrection.
D. Testimony to Paul’s Authority

Galatians 1:11-12
I want you to know, brothers,
that the gospel I preached is not
something that man made up.
[12] I did not receive it from any
man, nor was I taught it; rather, I
received it by revelation from
Jesus Christ.
1. Paul’s commission,
a. It( the Gospel ) was not given to me
by men
b. It was given ..by direct revelation of
Jesus Christ
What was the life of Paul?
2. Paul’s changed life
Formerly,
Galatians 1:13
For you have heard of my previous way of
life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted
the church of God and tried to destroy it.
a. Paul was someone who hates Christianity
b. Paul was being promoted (for persecuting
Christians)
c. Paul was zealous for his ancestral
traditions (Judaism)
Galatians 1:14
And I was advancing in Judaism beyond
many of my contemporaries among my
countrymen, being more extremely
zealous for my ancestral traditions.
Galatians 1:15
But when it pleased God, who
separated me from my mother's
womb, and called me by his grace,
At the right time, God said…it’s time
to CHANGE!

CHANGE people!
The gospel can ___________

Galatians 1:16
to reveal his Son in me so that I might
preach him among the Gentiles, I did not
consult any man,
Galatians 1:17-18
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who
were apostles before me; but I went away to
Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

18 Then three years later I went up to

Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas,
and stayed with him fifteen days.
Galatians 1:19-22
19 But I did not see any other of the apostles
except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 Now in
what I am writing to you, I assure you before
God that I am not lying.
21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and
Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by sight to the
churches of Judea which were in Christ;
Galatians 1:23-24
23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once
persecuted us is now preaching the faith which
he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they were
glorifying God because of me.
III. Galatians 1 Chapter Summary
1.You cannot change the Gospel
2. The Gospel is timeless .. Truth
is timeless
3. Distorting the Gospel leads to
condemnation
4. Trusting the wrong gospel
leads to eternal destruction
5. The Gospel is always under
attack
Discussion Questions:
1. What is the Gospel?
2. Why is it vital to know the true
Gospel of grace?
3. Have you tried changing a bad
habit out of self effort? What
Happened?
4. How does the bondage of sin affect us?