Few things, if any, upset the Apostle Paul any more than the dilution (watering down) of the Gospel!

To this great man, the Gospel is: “That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

And that Act, that Deed, Jesus’ Salvation Procuring Calvary Experience … is the means, THE ONLY MEANS, by which man can be saved! Can be rescued from an eternal Hell! Can be guaranteed eternal life!

Yes, tamper with the Gospel as being a GIFT of God to erring mankind … and you’ll have Paul ranting and raving! And even … “cursing?”

Yes!

If one’s definition of “cursing” is pronouncing “eternal doom” on a person, definitely YES!

And he did just that at the beginning of his most polemic Epistle of all … Galatians!

He pronounced sure-coming Judgment on those who were trying to introduce Moses (instead of Jesus, or alongside Jesus) as a means of salvation! Trying to mix “works” into God’s Salvation by “Grace” Plan!

Wow!

Paul could not bide “any other Gospel!”

So Galatians 1:8-9 boldly asserts: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Paul did not care who it was … that preached a false Gospel!

Even an angel!

(Though it would be a “fallen” angel, wouldn’t it?)

(A virtual “demon,” I suppose!)

And certainly this horrible imprecation includes a man, a badly mistaken man!

Now to today’s main Line … “Let him be accursed.”

In fact Paul says this twice, within just a few words! I say … “Let him be accursed.”

The  word “accursed” used here is spelled “anathema” in Greek. (Yes, it has become an English word, has entered our vocabulary … transliterated at that … “anathema!” Simply defined as: “a formal curse, one denouncing a doctrine or person!”

So let’s study this important noun. The “thema” part of the word is an expression of a verb, “tithemi.” It means “to place” or “to designate” something! Or “to appoint” something. Nearly “to dedicate it for a certain purpose!”

And the “ana” prefix (a preposition) means (or can mean) “every man!” But its most frequent implication is “into the midst” of something.

Here an accursed person is one who is “prayed into, dedicated to, designated for” … DESTRUCTION! ETERNAL DAMNATION! AN ETERNITY IN HELL FIRE AND BRIMSTONE!

Wow!

It is roughly the equivalent (though not spoken with malice or sinful hatred, or frivolity either) to our English curse: “Go to Hell!” (I know that is plain. But it is also truthful, accurate!)

Furthermore, the verb “let (him) be” (in “Let him be accursed”) is a form of “eimi” in Greek, meaning a state of “being,” but here it’s framed as an imperative, a necessity, a no-exceptions consequence of denying the Grace of God, the saving Grace of God!

Yes, Paul the Apostle … in the spirit of the many imprecatory Psalms, has just pronounced (according to the perfect, promised Will of God) doom on anyone who believes not (actually in this case, perverts) the true Gospel!

To this man of God anyway, this former “Saul of Tarsus” … getting the Gospel wrong is deadly!

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18, Jesus speaking, agreeing with Paul!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

More about these false preachers, false teachers tomorrow, the Lord willing.

 

I realize I must “speed up” some in our study of Galatians!

If not, we’re going to be in this little Bible Book for years!

But still, I MUST discuss yesterday’s verse once more, the half we didn’t mention then. And add to that “mix” verse 7 as well. (Of Galatians chapter 1.)

Paul wrote to his converts: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

Paul has two “another’s” in this Text.

The first Greek adjective Paul felt led to use for “another” is “heteros,” which specifically means “ANOTHER OF A DIFFERENT KIND!” It is NOT the word “allos,” meaning “another of the same kind!”

This (the “another” I have capitalized above) is not a local, cultural presentation of the Old, Old Story! This is a monstrosity that flies in the Face of the Gospel of the Grace of God!

To Paul, to the Holy Spirit … Salvation is a GIFT of God, not earned in any way.

This “other”/”heteros” gospel makes Salvation merely a Wage, a Payment, a Goal one has achieved by observing hundreds of rules laid down thousands of years earlier!

That’s “heteros,” for sure!

Then the second time Paul uses “another” (underlined in the Test above) he does employ “allos,” now even more strongly denigrating this “new gospel,” so-called. It is NOT “like” the True Gospel at all! It is very un-allos! (Smile, please!)

What a grammar lesson today! Vocabulary lesson! Lesson in the precise nature of New Testament Greek, and of the Writing Ability of the Holy Spirit!

Then Paul notes that some men (enemies of this Gospel of Grace) have come into (invaded) the Galatian Churches and now “trouble” them. “Tarasso” means “to agitate!” To keep in an uproar! By stirring the waters of turmoil! By constantly aggravating! (The Peace of God has now vanished from these Churches, looks like. They are in confusion, chaos!)

This makes me wonder if SOME there in Galatia have not (at least not yet) fallen for the “lies” the Moses-men are telling. A few little heroes wanting to “hold the line” and “defend the Faith” once delivered to the saints!

Then lastly today … these false teachers are being accused by Paul of “perverting” the Gospel of Christ! This verb (an infinitive) is “metastrepho,” meaning to take something and “twist it” all out of shape! To actually ruin it by badly deforming it! To render it inoperable!

Wow!

What a precise description of … what a false doctrine can do!

No wonder the New Testament again and again warns us to “earnestly contend” (defend) for the Faith taught us in the Word of God!

To … “Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Paul again in Romans 16:17.

Sounds serious!

More tomorrow, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Once I studied the things that made Jesus marvel! The list is not very long. And the answer is surprising, “FAITH!” Or the lack of it, “UNBELIEF!”

As Matthew 8:10 connotes: “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great FAITH, no, not in Israel.” (Luke 7:9 also tells the very same story, just in slightly different words, about the healing of a Centurion’s servant.)

And Mark 6:6 presents the “doubt” side of my observation. “And he (Jesus) marvelled because of their UNBELIEF. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

That verb, “to marvel,” translates “thaumazo” in Greek. It means “to wonder, to admire!” It derives from a root verb that means “to gaze upon,”  (Colloquially: to be unable to take your eyes off something, it is so captivating, so very thrilling! Wow!)

Now in Galatians, in today’s Lesson, Paul uses that same verb (thaumazo) to describe his reaction to the Galatians’ “unbelief?” Or their “departing from the Faith?” Or their “going back to the Law of Moses?”

“I (Paul) marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.” Galatians 1:6

“Removed,” another powerful Holy-Spirit chosen verb! It is “metatithemi” in Greek, meaning “to place something aside!” To lay it down, considering it no longer all that important!

And by “Grace” Paul here simply means Salvation as a free Gift from God … abundantly bestowed upon any repenting, believing sinner!

The Galatians are willingly being misled … and Paul is astounded!

Who would turn from fresh Rib-eye steak to instead eat poor quality, old and rancid bologna? Yet the Galatians have done worse than that!

And so Paul writes his whole Epistle, all 6 chapters of Galatians (149 verses) to persuade these Christians (???) not to defect from the Faith!

Paul … “stunned!”

Do WE care when people leave the Church?

When they “cool” in their relationship with Jesus?

It mattered to Jesus.

And it did to Paul, as we’ve just seen.

To Abraham as well.

Think about it today.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Again, do we marvel about anything spiritual any more?

 

“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Galatians 1:3-5, Paul’s “salutation” (or “opening greeting”) to the Churches of Galatia.

Pretty routine, these words, from Paul’s perspective anyway.

“Grace” is most often how one would say Hello to a Greek, a gentile. (In Greek “charis,” in the literary world meaning that which brings “joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, etc.”)

And “peace” (in Greek “eirene”) is the greeting extended to any “Jews” who may have been in the area.

Paul wants everyone included! Everyone who  professes to be saved, everyone in the local churches in Galatia. (Just like Paul’s God is a “Whosoever will may come” Lord and Master!)

Note the “doctrine” Paul has inserted here in his opening, our Lord Jesus Christ is placed on equal footing as God the Father! Already emphasizing Jesus’ Ability to provide Salvation … without the help of the Law of Moses!

Then come two Jesus verbs … He GAVE Himself … to DELIVER us! Paul is this soon preaching the Grace of God to provide salvation! Jesus laid down His Life! (As opposed to just being “murdered!”) Why? To “lift us out” of our sinful lives! (“Didomai” and “exaireo” being the verbs at hand. If you want to study them further.)

And look again: God willed our salvation. But Jesus bought, provided, gave our salvation! (The noun for “will” is “thelema” meaning what one “desires,” what “brings one pleasure!” Yes, GOD IS LOVE.)

This too, the “evil world” (“poneros aion” meaning “a progressively sinful and wicked age”) in which we live is only temporary! It’s the “present” evil world, implying not “eternal!” God will burn it some day, replacing it with a “new earth” says the Book of Revelation. Well, Peter teaches this too. As did Isaiah!)

Then finally Paul reaches the climax of his greeting, with a word of praise to God! “To Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  Wow! This is characteristically Pauline! He often, when teaching, has to stop and pray, to magnify the One Whom he serves. The One on Whom he has been discoursing!

What an opening Statement!

And to the Galatians!

Now tomorrow, the Lord willing, Paul immediately segues into his first discussion of the problem at hand. The Galatians’ veering from the Grace of God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Maybe more than anywhere else in all his Epistles, Paul establishes his AUTHORITY as an Apostle when addressing the Galatian Churches.

(The Epistle to the Romans may be a close second! But he had never seen those people, most of them anyway, face-to-face! Not when writing that Epistle, Romans. Thus it was necessary to show them his “status” as a Preacher. Yet Paul knew the Galatians very well! This is remarkable!)

Look at what I mean, in Galatians, the first part of the salutation there. “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia.” Galatians 1:1-2

The Greek noun “apostlos” means “an official delegate.” Or “one sent forth with orders!” And clearly Paul here authenticates his “position” by referring to its Source, God the Father and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, the RESURRECTED Jesus Christ! (This is powerful!) In Greek “apo” means “from, away from.” And “stello” means “to set in order.”

And Apostle comes, in the New Testament view, to “straighten some things out,” things that have gradually drifted or changed for the worse!

Interestingly. Paul does not even mention being an Apostle in the salutation of Philippians, that being one of his most loving Churches! (No need to “pull rank!”)

Nor in the two Thessalonian Letters, one of Paul’s “supporting” congregations!

So why does Paul feel the need to establish such “gravitas” with the Galatians?

Because they are, at least to some degree, questioning his very Apostleship!

The Believers there have been (wrongly) told that Paul has led them astray!

That Paul’s “Gospel of Grace” is incomplete at best, and at worst, blatantly wrong!

So Paul is flashing his credentials … before engaging in debate with those who say salvation is via Moses, not Jesus! Those called “Judiazers” most often.

Yes, God calls His men and invests them with authority to declare His Word!

And that includes men like your Pastor, by the way!

Thank God that he (the Pastor) loves you and seeks to befriend you and your family again and again. But never forget he is also a MAN OF GOD! Given (via His “call” and the anointing Power of the Holy Spirit) authority to preach the Bible, in its entirety!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

What a practical Text this morning!