“The Gospel or Religion”
Galatians 1
Sermon Series: “Choice”
Introduction: Paul wrote this letter to a group of churches in Galatia because they were being deceived by false teachers who were perverting the Gospel of Jesus Christ by denying that the work of Jesus alone is sufficient for salvation, but they were adding the keeping of the Mosaic Law, specifically in regard to circumcision, as a requirement for salvation. The requirements may not be the same, but it is common today in East Tennessee for people to add to the gospel of Jesus. The main idea of this book, passage, and message is that Jesus alone, plus nothing and minus everything, gives us the forgiveness of sin and a relationship with God.
The reality is that every one of us has to choose between the gospel of Jesus and religion, and we need to understand that Jesus plus anything is not the gospel but religion. The gospel, which means good news, is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins. This is the grace of God, which is received by faith (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). We also need to understand that we are choosing the consequence every time we make a choice, and the choices we make will end up defining our lives (and our eternities in this case). Why then should we choose the gospel over religion? Here are 4 reasons:
1. The Gospel is revealed by God while religion is invented by people (v. 6-12). Man would not have thought up a message that makes him the villain incapable of saving himself instead of the hero. Christianity runs counter to every religion in regard to our inability to save ourselves. This passage shows us:
A. There is only one gospel (v. 6-7).
B. Any change to the truth of the gospel is a perversion (v. 7).
C. God judges anyone who changes the gospel (v. 8-9).
D. We cannot please people and Jesus (v. 10).
E. God divinely revealed the gospel to Paul (v. 11-12).
2. The Gospel is about what Jesus has done for us while religion is about what we do (v. 1-5, 13-16). This is the central essence of the gospel and the ultimate diving line between the gospel and religion. Do you believe that Jesus is the God-Man who died for our sins and rose from the dead? Do you believe what He did for us is completely sufficient for our salvation without us adding anything to it? Romans 4:5 says, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
3. The Gospel transforms us from the inside out while religion focuses on external things (v. 23). Only the gospel can truly change the human heart. Religion says that rules, rituals and actions make us right with God instead of Jesus. Religion says if I obey, God will love me while the gospel says I can obey because God loves me. Religion says my salvation depends on my obedience while the gospel says my salvation is based on the perfect obedience of Jesus. Religion says that being a godly person makes me accepted by God while the gospel says that God’s acceptance of me in Jesus enables me to be a godly person.
4. The Gospel glorifies God while religion seeks to impress people (v. 24, 10, 14; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). The gospel glorifies God because it gives Jesus all the credit. Religion gives us the credit for what we have done. However, it always leads to either pride or despair because we either look down on others or give up because of our shortcomings.
Conclusion: How do we respond to the gospel? Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This tells us that the way to respond to the gospel is:
1. Rely solely on the finished work (His atoning death and bodily resurrection) of Jesus.
2. Acknowledge Jesus’ Lordship over us.
