Sermon Tone Analysis

One of Aesop’s Fables is about a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

A wolf had his eye on a certain flock of sheep, but he couldn’t get any of the sheep he wanted because of the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs.

Then he saw the skin of a sheep that had been flayed, so he put the skin on as a costume and went among the sheep as one of their own.

The lamb who belonged to the sheep the wolf was wearing began following the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

He led the lamb apart from the rest of the sheep and made a meal of her.

The wolf was able to deceive the sheep and keep feasting on them for some time.

But eventually, the shepherd, in examining his sheep, discovered the wolf, and killed him.

(Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing by Jim Heidebrecht)

After exposing the dangers of the false doctrines that threatened the Galatians, Paul now exposes the wicked character of the wolves in sheep’s clothing among the Galatians.

Like his Lord, Paul had great patience with those who were caught in even the deepest moral sin.

As much as they condemned the sin itself and warned against its consequences, their love for the sinner was always evident.

But also like the Lord, the apostle’s most scathing denunciations were reserved for those who pervert God’s truth and lead others into falsehood.

In an age of dangerous tolerance, the challenge for each of us is to recognize error and deal with it as God desires.

Unchallenged, error can warp our judgment, poison our relationships and inhibit our worship.

What seem like a little tolerance of a difference of opinion, especially in things essential for salvation, can bring ruin in a spiritual life, a household and even a church.

In Galatians 5:7–12 Paul gives us tell tale warning signs to watch out for in false teachers in order not to fall into their trap.

He presents six characteristics of the Judaizers that are general enough to fit all other teachers of ungodliness, ancient or modern.

False Teachers: 1) Hinder the Truth (Galatians 5:7), 2) Are Not of God (Galatians 5:8) 3) They Contaminate the Church: (Galatians 5:9), 4) They Will Be Judged: (Galatians 5:10), 5) They Persecute True Teachers: (Galatians 5:11), 6)They Should Be Cut Off: (Galatians 5:12)

FALSE TEACHERS:

1) HINDER THE TRUTH: (GALATIANS 5:7)

Galatians 5:7 [7] You were running well.

Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

(ESV)