THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS

THE THEMES OF THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS
“HOLD FAST”
GALATIANS 1: 6-9

INTRO:
There is something which I came across this past week which I found to be interesting. Have you ever stopped to consider a ship’s anchor? In the early days of sailing, anchors were commonly made of baskets of rocks, loaded logs, or simply giant rocks which made the sailing vessel immoveable.
Over time the design of anchors has changed, including their shape and the material from which they are made, but the concept remains the same. They were created to help a ship stay moored in one place, and not get thrown about in stormy seas. However, as with many things in life, if there is a bad section of rope, or loose link in the anchor chain, or any other imperfection in the anchor itself, then the ship can be cast about in the sea. When the anchor holds fast in the sea floor however, that ship isn’t going anywhere.
As we continue with our sermon series in which we are looking at the themes of the 66 books of the Bible, we come to what most believe to be the oldest of Paul’s epistles. The book of Galatians is universally believed to have been written by the Apostle Paul. The date of writing varies from scholar to scholar. Most would say that the epistle was written somewhere between AD 50-58. The recipients of the letter have long been a point of disagreement. For the purposes of our study here today, we will assume, based upon the evidence, that Paul addresses this letter to the southern Galatia area.
What we find here in these churches is a problem which still exist today. You see, Paul had come to them with the good news of the resurrection of Christ. Many among their number believed and obeyed the Gospel. They cast their faith anchors into the bedrock of the Lord, but their faith wasn’t what it needed to be. They didn’t hold fast to the lessons which the Lord had inspired Paul to share with them. Therefore, Paul had to take the time to correct them, and help them to find the path once again.
Today we want to examine this letter, and the theme which is, “HOLD FAST.” Brethren, throughout his letter to the Galatians, Paul attempts to remind them of what he had shared before. He tries to point out to them the need to hold fast to that which God had given them. This morning, I want to help you to see that to which you should hold fast. My prayer is that you will examine your life, and the way in which you are living right now, and take stock of that anchor which you have cast. I want you to make sure that it is buried deep in the solid rock of God.

I. HOLD FAST: REMEMBER “THE GOSPEL”

Paul makes a very interesting statement here in verses 6-9. In particular, I want you to notice what he says in verse 6. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” The NIV renders this verse in this way: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace OF Christ and are turning to an different gospel.”
Here we see something unusual for the Apostle Paul. IN the epistles which he wrote, he follows some very basic patterns. He would introduce himself, convey a blessing and praise upon those to whom he wrote, address the subject of the letter, and close his words with a prayer for spiritual blessing upon the recipients. However, in this, his first epistle, Paul skips straight to the heart of the matter in a most forceful way.
The problem that Paul has is that these people to whom he had brought the Gospel of Christ have allowed themselves to be led away to follow “another gospel”, which as Paul points out doesn’t exist because there is only one gospel of Christ which brings God’s grace and peace to mankind. (Galatians 1: 3, 7) Paul doesn’t feel as though he has time to observe the laws of letter writing, instead he jumps straight to the heart of the issue.
Well, let’s examine the question of this “other gospel.” Let’s see if we can discover what it is, and who created it.
First, let’s turn our attention to who created this perversion. Notice what Paul states in Galatians 1: 10-11. “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached is not after man.” Paul has just revealed to us that the origins of this “other gospel”, is of men. Paul is amazed that these people who, as he points out in verses 3-5, enjoy God’s grace and peace have turned away from the truth of God’s word. What then are the characteristics of this “man-made gospel?”
The answer to this question is found throughout the inspired words in chapters 1-6 the false gospel, as already stated, was man-made and man-approved. (Galatians 1: 10-11) Further more, this “ungospel, seeks to return man to the harsh reality of the Old Testament system. Grace and mercy isn’t enough, instead this other gospel wants a return of the Jewish law.
This perversion also excludes some from enjoying the benefits of the good news of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 2: 11-12) We also see that the ungospel takes salvation out of the mighty hand of God, and places the onus back into the less than capable hand of mankind. (Galatians 3: 1-5, 5: 16-18)
Brethren, in short, the false gospel which the churches of Galatia had allowed to come into their assembly. Everything that Christ died for, these folks were ignoring for what they perceived to be a better way to salvation.
In Galatians 1: 8-9, Paul states, and then restates, the idea that by changing the one true Gospel of Christ, you will bring a curse upon yourself. However, he truly strikes a death blow to these false teachers in Galatians 2: 20. There he states: “I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me.” You see, in one faille swoop, Paul has reminded them that the false gospel is nothing more than opinion, while the Gospel of Christ was delivered by the sacrifice which Jesus made on our behalf.
This same lesson applies to us today. In the world in which we live, man wants to apply opinion to faith and call it fact: that isn’t the way it works. The Bible makes it clear to us that Christ died for us, and in so doing provided us with the good news which we so disparately needed. (Hebrews 10: 14) I want to encourage you to hold fast, and remember the one true Gospel of Christ. After all, it is the power of God unto salvation. (Romans 1: 16

II. HOLD FAST: REMEMBER PAST FAILURES

I’m sure that there are those who are hearing this point and thinking to themselves, “Where in the wide world of sports is he going with this?” Many times a minister will stand before the congregation and preach the need to leave the past in the past, and look forward to the future. On the surface, this is a good idea. We can’t live in the past. The mistakes we made yesterday should not effect our actions today. There are many Christians, and need to be Christians, who allow their past to take a strangle hold on them. However, what we are talking about here isn’t living in the mistakes of the past; rather it is using the past to assist in both present and future troubles.
Let’s consider the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1: 13-23. There we find Paul speaking of his past, and his subsequent conversion. Notice how he doesn’t try to hide from the mistakes he had made, but instead places them out front for all to see. He points out in Galatians 1: 13-14 that he persecuted the Church beyond measure, and was more interested in the tradition of the Jews than the gospel of Christ.
This is similar to that which we find over in 1Timothy 1: 15. There Paul writes: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Paul doesn’t try to hide from his past, nor does he glory in the mistakes he has made: instead he uses his past to illustrate God’s amazing power and goodness.
Notice what Paul writes in Galatians 1: 24. He has just been discussing his past failures and wrong-headed thinking; he places an exclamation point at the end of this section with the following words: “And they glorified God in me.” Paul is pointing out that the folks whom he first met with in Galatia knew about his past, but glorified God because of how far he had brought the Apostle. He didn’t revel in his old ways, but instead used them to caution those who may have been on the same road that he had previously walked.
The lesson for you and I is to understand that we don’t hold our past up as a point of pride. However, we need to think of it like a walk in a wilderness. When you walk on a path in the woods, you don’t walk down the path backwards, but you do need to remember where you’ve walked. If you don’t, you just might become lost and circle back.
When I was preparing this lesson, I couldn’t help but think of our brother Wayne Shearer. Wayne has such an amazing story in his walk with Christ. I love talking to Wayne about a number of subjects, but one of the most interesting is his tattoos. Wayne doesn’t hide from his past in terms of his tats, nor does he revel in that past. Instead, he uses it as a cautionary tale to young and old alike. Brethren, this is what we all should do. We must remember the mistakes of the past, or else we are likely to repeat them. Let’s make sure that we hold fast, and remember the failures of our past.

III. HOLD FAST: REMEMBER FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

As most of you know, I am a huge college football fan. Specifically I am a University of Tennessee fan. Over the last few years, our program has fallen on hard times. Some of our recruits haven’t worked out; we have had coaching changes, and other teams in the SEC have gotten better. With all these things in mind, Coach Derrick Dooley took the head coaching position in January of 2010. He has gone a long way toward bringing our program back to respectability. This year, in an attempt to motivate his players, he hung the following sign “OPPORTUNITY IS NOWHERE.”
I’m sure that many of you read this sign, and had the same reaction that many of the players had. They couldn’t figure out how they were to be motivated by being told that opportunity didn’t exist. However, Coach Dooley pointed out to them that 90% of all people read the sign in that same way. However, 10% of people see it in a different light. 10% of the population reads the sign and sees, opportunity is now-here. What Coach Dooley is looking for are those who see opportunities around every corner.
That is the same thing that Paul is saying to us in Galatians 6: 9-10. He begins by encouraging us to continue to do good, because if we do, then we will reap the benefits down the road. How can they do it? Simply put, they can look for those opportunities which are all around them. Paul tells them that they should take every opportunity presented to them to do good unto all men, especially those who are their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Folks, I want to encourage you to do the same. Let’s look around, and see that there are moments all around us to make a difference in the lives of our friends, family, and even the strangers on the street. We can share the one true gospel, or perhaps some account from our past that can help someone else to come to know Christ. Brethren, Opportunity Is NOW-HERE! We have the chance to really impact other people in a positive way.

CONCLUSION:

The churches of Galatia needed the correction which Paul provided to them. They needed to be reminded about the one true gospel. They needed to remember the mistakes they had made in their past. Folks, they needed to remember that opportunity was literally all around them.
What about you? Did you need to be reminded? Hopefully you now see the path you need to take. If you need to make changes, then we pray that you will make those changes before it’s too late.