Sermon Tone Analysis

*4-15-07*

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*Studies in Galatians*

*Defending the Gospel of Grace*

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What is the gospel?

How can we know for sure what is right?

Is it that important that we take a strong stand?

Isn’t it just one of several equally valid interpretations of the Bible?

Isn’t love the most important thing?

Why divide over “doctrine”?

These and similar questions are often asked today and many people are ignorant of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

We, as fallen humans, have a natural tendency to rely on our own works and efforts to varying degrees, in our approach to religion and the knowledge of God.

As we begin this study of the book of Galatians, we will begin by observing how strongly the Scriptures emphasize the importance of testing and discerning and contending for the truth.

Eternity is at stake and nothing is more important.

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*Testing Fruit *

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*The Word of God warns us against being deceived.*

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*            /Matthew 24:4,5  “Watch out that no one deceives you.

For many will come in My name, claiming, “I am the Christ.”

And will deceive many.”/*

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*/            Proverbs /**/14:15/**/  “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”/*

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*/            Ephesians 5:6  “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”/*

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*            /Colossians 2:8  “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”/*

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*/            I Thessalonians /**/5:21/**/  “Test everything.

Hold on to the good.”/*

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*/            I John 3:7  “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.”/*

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*/            I John 4:1  “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”/*

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!! Spiritual leaders have a responsibility to protect the flock from false teachers.

*/Acts /**/20:28/**/  /**Paul’s admonition to the Ephesian elders.*

*            /“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.

Be shepherds of the /**/church/**/ of /**/God/**/, which He bought with His own blood.”/*

1.      Leadership is vital.

It is ordained of God, not man.

2.      The Church is precious to the Lord.

He bought her with His own blood.

3.      Leaders are responsible to keep watch, to protect, defend, teach and correct.

Paul could say he was innocent of the blood of all men because he did not hesitate to proclaim the whole will of God.

It is not always easy to proclaim the whole will of God.

It may not make you popular because it is not pleasing to the flesh.

*/II Corinthians 11:2/**/  /*Paul was jealous for the Corinthians with a godly jealousy.

His aim was to present the church as a pure virgin to Christ.

He feared they were being deceived and led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

*/v.4.

“If someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted.”/*

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            vv.13,14.

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”

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*/Galatians 1:6-10/**/  /*Paul was astonished that they would so quickly turn from the grace of Christ to a different gospel.

*/v.8.  “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”/*

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*/            v.10.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?  Or am I trying to please men?

If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”/*

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*/            /*A servant of Christ does not seek to preach or teach in order to win the favor of men.

*/Galatians 2:11-21/**/  /*Paul publicly rebukes Peter for his inconsistency in the gospel.

*/Galatians /**/4:16/**/  “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

/*Some in the church were turning against Paul because he was not telling them what the false prophets were saying.

Galatians 5:7-9  “You were running a good race.

Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?

That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

‘A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.’

*/            /*These verses teach us that sinful practices and false teachings have a bad influence on the whole body.

*/I Corinthians 15:33,34/*

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*/Ephesians 4:11-16/**/  /*Ministry gifts are given to the church in order to prepare the saints for the works of service.

The church is to be built up in unity of the faith, knowledge of the Son of God and spiritual maturity.

v.14.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

*/v.15./**/  “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ.”/*

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*/Philippians /**/1:27/**/  “Stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”/*

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*/Philippians 3:2/**/  “Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.”/*

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*/Colossians 2:2-4/**/  “ ….

In order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.”/*

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*/v.8./**/  “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”/*

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*/v.16./**/  “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink……..”/*

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*/v.18./**/  “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.”/*

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*/I Thessalonians /**/5:21/**/  “Test everything.

Hold on to the good.”/*

*/            /*How are we to test everything?

What standard are we to use to determine if something being taught of done is right and ‘of the Lord’?

The only sure and unerring guide is the Word of God.

Isaiah 8:20

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*/II Thessalonians 2:1-3/**/  “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

Don’t let anyone deceive you in anyway.”/*

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*/I Timothy 1:3,4/**/  “Stay in /**/Ephesus/**/ so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.

These promote controversies rather than God’s work – which is by faith./*

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*/v.6./**/

“some have wandered from the faith ….”/*

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*/vv.19,20/**/

“..  holding onto faith and a good conscience.

Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”/*

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*/II Timothy /**/1:13/**/  “What you have heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you- guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”/*

*/II Timothy 2:15/**/  “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”/*

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*/v.16./**/  “avoid godless chatter”/*

*/v.17./**/  “their teaching will spread like gangrene”/*

*/v.23./**/  “don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments”/*

*/v.24./**/  “The Lord’s servant must not quarrel.

He must be kind, able to teach…..”/*

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*/II Timothy 3:5/**/  “….

Having a form of godliness but denying its power.

Have nothing to do with them.”/*