Advertise on podcast: Rediscover the Practice of the Early Church (NTRF.org)

Argument: To persuade the Galatians that counterfeit gospel really was counterfeit, 1) he first appealed their own salvation experience wherein the they received the Spirit, accompanied with miracles. 2) He then appealed the Scripture (such as how Abraham was justified by faith). 3) Finally, he gave the example of human covenants. Beware: Of counterfeit gospels. Paul was not opposed to good works, but they have to be on the right side of the salvation equation. Counterfeit gospel: faith + works = saved Genuine gospel: faith = saved + works Who today teaches a counterfeit gospel? Roman Catholicism, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, those who insist on baptismal regeneration.

To the Jews, the sons of Abraham were his lineal, physical descendants. We must let the New Testament interpret the Old. Paul revealed the truth that the prophesied sons of Abraham are those who have the same faith as Abraham (ethnicity has nothing to do with it). Tina Turner sang, "What love got to do with it?" Paul could have crooned, "What's race got to do with it?" Here's how Paul put it in Romans: CSB Romans 4:9b-11 Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. In what way …was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was … while he was … uncircumcised…. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised … NIV Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. The physical descendants promised to Abraham were a type of the ultimate fulfillment: his spiritual descendants. Physical Israel was only a foreshadowing of the true fulfillment: Christ and the Church. This is why, at the end of Galatians, Paul refers to the Church as the true Israel: NIV Galatians 6:15-16 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.* Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. [All who live by this new-creation standard are specifically described as "the Israel of God", designating the true people of God in the new covenant]. *NIV 2 Corinthians 5:17 … if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation …

What hypocritical mess did Peter get himself into in Antioch (Ga 2:11-14)? Peter understood the true gospel, but his conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel. In a misguided attempt to please kosher-compliant Jewish Christians from Jerusalem, Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile believers. Peter failed to understand the implications of his behavior on the greater Christian community. His was an unreflective partisanship for a Jewish way of living, not premeditated malice. In private matters, eat kosher if you wish. However, in public settings with other believers, one must not insist on others eating kosher as a basis for fellowship. Thus, Paul opposed Peter to his face. This error by Peter reveals a second topic of this letter: What does the gospel require of those who believe it, as relates to Moses?

A counterfeit gospel had infected the churches of Galatia. Paul called it a different gospel (1:6), another gospel (1:7), a distorted gospel (1:7), and a contrary gospel (1:8); then finally in 1:11, man's gospel. The one they originally heard from Paul, and the other one they heard later from men claiming approval from the apostles in Jerusalem. A similar problem exists today. The Jehovah's Witnesses claim to have the true gospel. The Mormons offer a "restored" gospel. Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy placed a unique spin on the gospel related to historic tradition. How is one to decide? The overall topic of this letter is fairly straightforward: What is the true gospel, and what does it require of those who believe it? Today: Paul's purpose in today's passage (1:11-2:14) was to convince the Galatians that the gospel they heard from him came straight from Jesus. As you travel in a car, you can enjoy the sunset, or the pretty scenery you pass, or points of historical interest, but ultimately the purpose of travel is to reach a destination. So too, when read the Bible, there is much of interest to note and enjoy, but we mustn't forget the purpose is the figure out where the author is going. Let's not get lost in the details. This whole section (1:11-2:14) is not really about Paul. It is about why the gospel Paul preached was the true gospel.

It is quite easy to tell Indian currency from American currency. The problem is counterfeit U.S. currency that fools us, tricks us, deceives us. A counterfeit gospel was circulating in Galatia. In The Music Man, Professor Harold Hill sang "We got trouble, right here in River City, with a capital T and that rhymes with P, and that stands for Pool." In our study of Galatians, we need to change it to "trouble, with a capital T, and that rhymes with G, and that stands for "gospel". A counterfeit gospel caused great trouble in Galatia, and was an eternally serious business.

We are to flee false doctrine and its associated wrong applications, and instead actively to pursue righteousness & godliness, faith & love, steadfastness & gentleness.

Welcome to today's exciting guide to apostolic church patterns. Please keep your arms and theological objections inside the vehicle at all times. Plural elders, somebody asked why you've got 17 assistant pastors and a CEO. The book of Titus just quietly stares at you from across the room. Weekly communion! Try serving it in tiny plastic cups while the worship team launches into their 18th consecutive key change. The apostles are slightly confused. Consensus! Everybody gets to speak. Everybody gets heard. Nobody gets voted off the island. What a bizarre first century concept. Participatory meetings, everybody brings a hymn, a teaching, a testimony, except Larry. Larry brought another fog machine. That's your church pattern today. That's your church pattern today. That's your church pattern today. That's your church pattern today. That's your church pattern today. That's your church pattern today. Church size. If you need binoculars to identify your pastor, Paul might have needed GPS to find Timothy. The Lord's Supper. Somebody says it's symbolic. Somebody else says it's spiritual. Meanwhile, Paul's wondering why supper stopped looking like, well, supper. Plural elders. One pastor is easier to idolize. Five pastors keep each other humble. Imagine that. Traditions. Everybody says, we don't follow traditions. Then everybody sits in rows, faces one stage, starts at 10, ends at noon, and argues about carpet color. Congratulations, you have successfully invented new traditions. That's your church pattern today. That's your church pattern today. Somebody quotes Corinthians. Somebody quotes Calvin. Somebody quotes YouTube. Guess which one gets shared the most.

What are the teachings of the prosperity gospel? It teaches that financial success is a direct reward for unwavering faith, positive speech, and religious donations. Today's version of this ancient heresy surfaced in the 1950s. One of their preachers, Reverend Ike, stated, "I don't want pie in the sky when I die; I want cash in the stash here and now!" It interprets scripture as a divine guarantee of earthly wealth, putting the believer's material desires at the center of faith. Some have characterized their teaching as "name it and claim it, give to get, blab it and grab it, profess it and possess it". Also known as the "Word of Faith" movement, it key figures today are Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, John Hagee, Creflo ("Cashflow") Dollar, Paula White, and Joyce Meyer. Past figures included Oral Roberts, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, E.W. Kenyon and Kenneth Hagin.

How was Roman slavery different from American slavery in the 1800s? Both were "chattel" slavery. In real estate lingo, chattels are moveable items a seller takes with him—such as livestock. The word "chattel" comes from the French word for cows (you can hear it in the related word, "cattle"). All enslaved people in the Roman Empire were considered "chattel," meaning they were legally categorized as absolute property with few legal rights, could not refuse labor, and were treated as commodities that could be bought, sold, traded, or inherited (just like cattle). The differences are that: 1) American slavery was race-based, whereas Roman slavery usually came as the result of conquest, debt, or being born into it. 2) Roman slavery had a much more accessible legal pathway to freedom (Roman slaves were generally permitted to do outside work for pay, and were often able to save enough to buy their freedom). 3) Roman slaves were often much better educated than their masters, and were commonly entrusted with huge responsibilities. In contrast, it was illegal to educate American slaves. Thomas Sowel: "Although slavery was a worldwide institution for thousands of years, nowhere in the world was slavery a controversial issue prior to the 18th century. People of every race and color were enslaved—and enslaved others. White people were still being bought and sold as slaves in the Ottoman Empire, decades after American blacks were freed." Modern Application: For all practical purposes, slavery has been illegal in the United States since 1865. Unless a Christian is in prison, the closest application we can make today for this text is to the employee/employer relationship (or per

Today, we'll look at considerations for both the appointment and the discipline of leaders (the sad fact is that sometimes elders go bad).

First London Baptist Confession (1644): "… every Church has power.... to choose … Pastors … the due maintenance of the officers … should be the free and voluntary communication of the Church, that according to Christ's ordinance, they that preach the Gospel, should live on the Gospel …"

Paul dealt with four types of widows: older widows without children, older widows with children, younger widows, and wanton widows.

Our Christian maturity—that is, our growth in Christlikeness—is cultivated as we come to know the heart of Christ, and it is revealed in the way we relate to others, especially in how we view and respond to their sins, failures, and offenses. This sermon unfolds how Christ deals with us in our weakness and failure, and how, in turn, we are called to deal with one another in love, patience, mercy, and truth.

When two rams butt heads, little lambs get trampled. Doctrinal controversies within a church are always taxing. Such are times that try men's souls. Those with a weak conscience are often offended and discouraged. Those caught in the cross fire say things like, "What does it really matter, anyway? Can't we all just get along? Doctrine divides, but Christ unites. I don't ask them about their, beliefs, and they don't ask me about mine." Today, we'll continue to see why the price paid to safe guard orthodoxy is, in the long run, worth the high cost.

This paragraph has application primarily for church leaders. What is that application? Church leaders must: • Warn the brothers about deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons • Have nothing to do with myths • Must themselves be trained in the words of faith and good doctrine. • Toil and strive for the gospel, as God is potentially the Savior of all people. What is the application here for Christian in general? • All believers must beware of irreverent, silly, religious myths (they're all around us!). • Listen to your leaders when they warn of bad doctrine/practice. • Remember that bodily training is of some benefit, but training in godliness is far more valuable. You will not succeed spiritually if you do not adopt spiritual disciplines. Where are your priorities? • Live life in light of eternity. George Whitefield spoke of seeing criminals riding in a cart on their way to the gallows, arguing like a bunch of kids about who should sit on the right hand of the cart. Here were men condemned to die that very day, but their focus was on who got the best seat on the way to the execution! The Bible is clear that as members of the fallen human race, we're all in that cart, on the way to the gallows. We'd better be preparing for what lies beyond. • Toil and strive to effectively introduce the gospel to your children (the next generation). If you drop the ball, it will be a curse to them.