Galatians 1 8 10 Defection Its Consequences 8

Galatians 1: 8 -10 Defection: It's Consequences 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 1

Conditional Sentence (If --- Then ---) * First Class - Assumed true for argument’s sake. example: Luke 4: 3 And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. " Second Class - Assumption of an untruth for the sake of argument. example: John 5: 46 "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. Third Class – Presents the condition as uncertain of fulfillment, but still likely. example: Mark 5: 28 For she thought, "If I just touch His garments, I will get well. " Fourth Class - Indicates a possible condition in the future, usually a remote possibility. R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 * Daniel B. Wallace Greek Grammar 2

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, (then) he is to be accursed! But even (or even though) we, or an angel from heaven - includes Paul - his team - angel from heaven Third Class conditional sentence – Presents the condition as uncertain of fulfillment, but still likely R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 3

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, (then) he is to be accursed! should preach to you a gospel contrary - contrary – other than or more than - different gospel (Gal. 1: 6) - distorted gospel (Gal. 1: 7) gospel in the narrow sense vs. widest sense - 1 Cor. 15: 3 -5 - Paul’s teaching on gospel of God’s grace R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 4

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, (then) he is to be accursed! - what we have preached to you - What did Paul preach to them ? - What authority did Paul have ? (Gal. 1: 11 -13) - (then) he is to be accursed! - accursed – anathema - cursed or condemned see Rom. 9: 3 R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 5

9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, (then) he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again - repeats message to any man - perfect tense First Class conditional sentence - assumed true for argument’s sake. - this was a reality in the Galatian church see Acts 15: 5 R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 6

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, (then) I would not be a bondservant of Christ. am I now seeking the favor of men ? am I now seeking the favor of God ? am I striving to please men? seeking - to win over, gain the favor of see Acts 18: 4, Acts 19. 8 striving - to try to gain, to strive after R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 7

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, (then) I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Second Class conditional sentence - assumption of an untruth for the sake of argument. pleasing men vs. God – see Col. 3: 22, 1 Thess. 2: 4 bond-servant of Christ doulos - one who gives himself up to the will of another see Rom 1: 1, Eph. 6: 6, 2 Peter 1: 1 8

Galatians 1: 8 -9 Summary Points * 1. Paul’s Gospel concerns the person of Christ and what he has done, is doing and will do for the believer. There is absolutely no human effort involved. The believer is to simply abide in Christ and walk by faith. 2. God will not tolerate one iota of human effort to be added to his grace. Doing so reverses grace and substitutes human effort for the power of God. 3. Anyone willfully adding human effort, works, legalism, etc. to grace is “anathema” or damned by God. 4. There is the probability that anyone of us could pervert the gospel by believing that we need to perform some human effort for our sanctification. 5. Paul’s gospel (all 13 epistles) is the believer’s (church’s) standard of truth regarding living the Christian life and who we are in Christ. All of man’s teaching is to be tested against it. (note: This is not to say that other New Testament books do not contain church truths – but the predominance of church truths was revealed to Paul. ) 6. Our focus must be on the truths of the gospel and not the person teaching, regardless of his credentials, popularity, charisma or godliness. 7. Do not follow men ! – Follow truth ! R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 * Hal Molloy 1/16/1994 9

R. Henderson 1/24/2010 Lesson # 4 10