Galatians: Justification/Righteousness by Faith Alone; Damnation Upon Those Who Add To The Gospel Preached By The Apostle Paul:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16 - 1716 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

. The Holy Spirit defines and declares the two great foundational doctrines of the Gospel of Grace in Romans; justification (rendered just or innocent, free, righteous) and sanctification (made holy, purified). An attack on either destroys the Gospel. In Corinthians, Paul reproves believers for practically denying the doctrine of sanctification, and in Galatians, he corrects believers for corrupting the doctrine of justification.

Paul states emphatically that men did not appoint him as an Apostle (an official delegate or messenger), but rather God and the Lord Jesus Christ appointed him, Galatians 1:11 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

. He states he received the Gospel he preached directly from The Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:11 - 1211 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

. No one may ignore these absolute truths. And three verses nestled between these verses should give pause to anyone who calls themselves a Christian. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:8 - 108 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

. Note Paul repeats this statement twice, implying the seriousness thereof. Therefore, we need to understand both what are and what are not the elements of the Gospel revealed to Paul.

The Galatians faced a particular problem in that they added works of the Law after having been saved by faith, i.e., by believing the Gospel of Grace, Galatians 3:1 - 31 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

. Paul points out that the Apostle Peter was committed to the Gospel of circumcision (referring to the Nation of Israel), whereas the Apostle Paul was committed to the Gospel of uncircumcision (Paul's Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles). Galatians 2:6 - 96 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

; that Abraham was the father of faith: “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Galatians 3:6 - 76 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

. God’s principle of salvation by grace through faith is the same for us today as it was to Abraham but His promise to Abraham was different than to us. Abraham believed God’s Word to him that he would be the father of many nations, Genesis 17:4 - 54 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

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God’s Word to us today is “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:1616 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

. Notice we are justified (declared righteous) by the faith of Christ, it does not say we are justified by faith in Christ because He was the only Man Who ever lived and died on the cross in total and perfect faith in God’s Will and Word. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10:1717 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

and Jesus Christ is the Word of God, John 1:11 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

-2 & 14. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of Faith, Hebrews 12:22 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Since the Apostle Paul warns that any who preach a gospel other than what he preached will be accursed, we must recognize elements that are not included in his gospel and avoid them:

▪ No priest or pastor, either Hebrew or Gentile, can mediate between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:55 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

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▪ There are no miraculous sign gifts, i.e., healing, prophesy, tongues, miracles or knowledge given to believers since those early believers mentioned in 1st Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 12:9 - 109 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

; 12:30; 13:8. Paul himself performed many miracles in his early ministry, the last of which are recorded at the end of the book of acts when he was shipwrecked on Malta; he was bitten by a deadly snake that did not affect him, Acts 28:3 - 63 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

and he went on to heal many on that island after that, Acts 28:8 - 98 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

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▪ Evidence of the end of those miraculous gifts is found in Paul’s later epistles when there was no miraculous healing for believers who were sick: Philippians 2:25 - 2725 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

; 2 Timothy 4:2020 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

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▪ Sacred to some today is the rite of water baptism, whether immersion or sprinkling. The Kingdom message given to the Apostle Peter and the 12 required it, Acts 2:37 - 4137 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

. Even Paul practiced it in his early ministry before he received the complete revelation of the Gospel of Grace. However, the only epistle in which Paul mentions water baptism is 1st Corinthians, and there, Paul thanks God he had only baptized a few because Christ had not sent him to baptize, 1 Corinthians 1:14 - 1714 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

. I recall when I was young the church I attended taught that “baptism is an outward ceremonial washing signifying an inward washing of regeneration” but there is no Scripture that teaches this. Most important today, Paul teaches that believers today are baptized by the Spirit into One Body; 1 Corinthians 12:1313 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

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▪ These “works” in and of the flesh count absolutely nothing to God.

Galatians 2:16, quoted above, clearly states that “we have believed” in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law. That belief must come from the heart, Romans 10:1010 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

and God knows our hearts, Luke 16:1515 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

; Romans 8:2727 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

; 2 Timothy 2:1919 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

, etc. Each believer knows in his/her heart that they are truly saved, 1 Corinthians 2:10 - 1510 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

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Now let’s review just two passages where Paul gives a synopsis of the Gospel revealed to him. By believing this Gospel, mankind is saved: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I (Paul) preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

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“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained (prepared before) that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8 - 108 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

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