You may be seated. Thank you, Jerry. Back to Galatians chapter 1 now
with me. Galatians 1. Let's read verse 7 and verse
11. Galatians 1. Scripture reads
concerning the gospel. We need to read verse 6 with
that. Verse 6 and 7 and verse 11. It reads, I marvel that you're
so soon removed from him, or God, that calls you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another.
that there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel
of Christ. Verse 11, he says, But I certify
you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not
after man. Looking at these verses again, which speak of a perverted gospel,
And the certified or true gospel made me think back to a message
by my pastor many years ago, a message blessed those that
heard it then. I'm not sure if I was there,
I don't know, but I heard it later and greatly blessed me,
entitled Recovering the Gospel. I even endeavored to preach it
myself, pretty much the way it was. several years ago and in
that message he outlined the difference between the modern
perverted gospel or so-called gospel and the truth, the differences,
which is what we're going to be doing this morning from Scripture. Now the first thing that we read
here is of Paul's calling. Paul's supernatural calling of
God, and that's vital, people. It's vital to believe that the
Apostle Paul was and is God's Apostle. And that this letter
that he wrote is not the words of a man, but as it is in truth,
the Word of God. That's vital that we know that,
that we believe that, that Paul was not just an ordinary man. Honestly, it is vital that we
know that this is very few today believe that this is indeed God's
Word. Most think it's Paul's words,
and it's up for debate. So the first thing he does in
verse one says, Paul, an apostle, not of men. No man made me an
apostle, he said, either by man. That is, I don't work for men.
Not of man, neither by man. They didn't hire me, and that's
not who I work for, he said. That's not who I'm trying to
please, he went on to say. Read on. But by Jesus Christ,
an apostle made so by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised
him from the dead. No prophet in the Old Testament
ever applied for the job. Ever. Every prophet in the Old
Testament was called supernaturally by God. Every apostle was called
supernaturally by God and gifted, God-gifted, supernaturally by
God. Our Lord even said, whatever
you bind on earth and so forth. Remember that? These men, the prophets and the
apostles, heard directly from God. God spoke to them personally. That's right. That's right. That's one and concerning the
apostles, that's one of the requirements or credentials of a true apostle
is they had to receive their message, the gospel, the word
from Christ himself in person, not second person but from him
himself. Say when did Paul have that?
Well, he saw the Lord on the road to Damascus, didn't he?
And we just read here where it says he didn't go to Jerusalem
and start conferring with the rest of the apostles, he went
to Arabia. And that's where the Lord Jesus Christ taught him
the gospel. Three years. Isn't that a coincidence? same time with the rest of the
spent three years. That's one of the requirements
of an apostle and a prophet, a direct revelation. You and
I are different. You and I are different. I include
myself here. You and I are different. We receive
God's word through men. And I'll show you, you know these
verses, but one in particular, 1 Thessalonians 2. First Thessalonians
2. I dare not presume that everybody
knows these verses, though. I want you to look at it. First
Thessalonians 2. You know the passages like in Romans 10, where
it says, How shall they call on him whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they
preach? How shall they hear without a preacher? You know that Romans
10, 13, 14, 15. How shall they preach? True preachers are sent by God.
They don't apply for the job either, but it's not the same.
These men aren't infallible. Their words are not the words
of God. No, no, no, no, no. Some think they are, but they're
not. God never saved anybody through
a man's preaching. Not modern. He saved men through
Peter's preaching. Didn't it? That's because what
he, it was the word of God and God wrote it down. What he preached,
wrote it down. My message is, you know, I got
them all in notebooks, but I will burn them. They're really not
going to anybody. They're not. It's here and now. It's here
and now. That's a fact. Here first this
loan is to verse thirteen for this cause Paul said to the.
That's lonely we thank God without ceasing because when you receive
the word of God which you heard of us. You heard it from us he
said you received it not as a word of man but as it is in truth
the word of God. Which effectually work it also
when you. See that they had to hear it
through the apostle. But that's the long they had
to hear it through a man God was speaking to them that he
did speak to the prophets and apostles. OK you know that. So
is this important that we know this sure it is because every
liar every man or woman that stands up today and tells you
that God said something to them they're a liar. That God sent
them and they have a new revelation they're a liar. God didn't send three Jeremiah
twenty three percent and many other. All right that's established. First two is written to the brethren
he said to the churches first to Paul the apostle and all the
brethren which are with me. He had many traveling companions
Silas and Timothy and other under the churches of Galatia. Now
who is he writing to who is this word to this is the word of God.
through Paul, but it's the Word of God. Who's it to? Who does
that say that's to? The churches. All right, that's
to the churches. The Revelation says, let him
that heareth hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. I can't
labor this enough, especially today. You understand the importance
of that? You do, because men and women,
even, all over the land today are taking God's Word and throwing
it out there wholesale and saying that it's to everybody. It's
not! You write letters to people and
you sign it who you wrote it to, don't you? Who's it to? Who
you wrote it to. I'm not mad at you. I'm just
emphasizing, OK? Have you ever been just dead
certain about something, how could you say it without? Listen.
I am mad at these people lying on God, I'll never cease to be
mad at these fellows. They're butchering souls. At
any rate, God's word is written to the churches. You see that?
The churches, you know that. Blessed are your eyes, they see
that. Your ears, they know that. They
hear that. Your heart, you know that. It's to the churches. Believers. And, you know, in the church
are goats and sheep. I mean, those that look like
it. God knows who it's to and who it applies to. It's like
the Sermon on the Mount, you know, to many people. All right,
to the churches. He says, to the churches, to
believers, grace be unto you. and peace from God our Father
to the children of God, the people of God, the elect of God, the
redeemed of God. Grace, peace from God, God your
Father. God loves you. Smile, believer,
saint, child of God, those in Christ by faith. Smile. God loves
you. God is your Father. I can say
that with More conviction than these fools out there. I can
say it to the people of God and say it with a smile. God loves you. And boy, the love
I'm talking about, Deborah, of God for his people, it's essential. And I'm getting way ahead of
myself. to the church, grace and peace from God our Father. Grace, what grace? He begins
that with, this is the true grace wherein we stand. This is the
saving grace of God. This is the gospel of God's grace,
or the grace of God that's in Christ. Grace which means a work
applied. Grace which means a gift bestowed. Grace which means a righteousness
given. Grace which means a pardon eternal
and full and effectual. Grace which means a new nature,
a new creature given. Grace that's given, an application
of something, not an offer, an application, not a something
up for acceptance, a work of God upon the heart and in me. Paul said, in me, not
to me, but in me. Grace and peace, this sums up
the gospel then. Grace, salvation by grace. Not
of works, lest any man should boast, but it's grace, it's a
gift. 100% a gift of God. Sovereign gift. Gives it to whom
he wills. It's his prerogative. Nobody
deserves it. He gives it to whom he wills. Grace. Aren't you glad? Salvation is about grace. Not
only is it sovereign, it means it's eternal. The gift and calling
of God without repentance. He doesn't take them back. Once in grace, always in grace. God's grace, Christ's grace. Salvation a hundred percent the
gift of God. Boy, those that know it and experience
it and love it, well, say amen to that. And the world spit nails,
but hmm. What a charming sound the hymn
says, harmonious to the ear. I can't wait for old Zerubbabel
to lay that top stone, can't you? What's he going to shout?
What's he going to shout? And what's everybody going to
shout? Grace! Unto it. When this whole thing, when this
temple is done and he lays that top stone, you know who the top
stone is, don't you? You know who the bottom stone
is, don't you? That means everybody, every brick
and every stone in this building is on the stone and under the
stone, crowned with a stone and standing on the stone on a rock.
As irrevocable as Christ himself, the builder of the temple. Except
the Lord build the house, labor and vain to build it. Grace unto it. Grace unto it. I'm not waiting until then, I'm
singing it now. Peace, peace declared by God. Peace. God's not angry with you,
believer. God is not angry with you. The
wrath of God abides upon those outside of Christ. Not the love.
The wrath of God abides upon the ungodly. He that believeth
not, the wrath of God abides upon them. But not God's people. There is no wrath upon them.
There never has been and never will be. Smile. God loves you. peace declared by God and made
or purchased or by Christ by his love. Huh? Who, verse four,
gave himself for our sins. Who? Christ gave himself for
our sins to deliver us, that he might deliver us. Strong deliverer. We just sang it. Strong deliverer. Christ gave himself to deliver
us. Who's us? Who's us? Who did Christ die for? Who did
he come to deliver? His people, his church, didn't
he? Christ is the deliverer. That's
what his name is. That's what he did. He delivered
us. I love that passage over in 2
Corinthians. It says, Trust the living God
who hath delivered us from so great a death, who doth deliver
us, and will yet deliver us. I believe I've been delivered
when God said so before the world began. I believe I am being delivered
right now by this God. I'm like Brother James, you know,
when I hear the gospel, I just get saved again. Wonderful. I need to hear it. Today is the
day of salvation, isn't it? And I'm going to lay hold on
it. I'm going to lay hold on it. today and I trust and I hope
and I pray and I believe that I will yet be delivered that
when that role is called up yonder by his grace and the mercy of
God in Christ Jesus I'll be there. Is that presumption? Am I talking
back to myself? Did I say anything I'd done?
No. Grace, see I trust the grace
of Christ. We're talking about the gospel
here, folks. And that means good news. And I just want to see
you smiling through it. Good news. Ah, boy. It says, Deliverer. Christ who
hath delivered us from going down into the pit. Isn't that
what the Scripture said? Delivered them from going down into the
pit. Why? Found a ransom. Brother Ed Hale sang about it.
Found a ransom. Ransom was found. Price was paid. who gave himself. What's the
price of one who gave himself. For. Their substitution. If you seek them. If you seek
me. He said. Let them go. And maybe you didn't hear that.
When Christ deceived. They were coming to kill him. Christ went and they've been
killed to every one of the disciples of this way flying Christ went
before them and stood in the gap stood before them kept in
their salvation if you seek me you must. If the law seeking. Christ answer
to it must let me go. If Satan. seeks me, and he seeks
whom he may devour. If Christ stands in front of
him and says, You seek me, let him go. If my sin, which is ever before
me and in me, if Christ is made sin for me, sin must not have
dominion over me. What's it all about? Not a what.
It's a who. It's Him. Him. Can you tell the difference here? Preaching a person. To whom,
verse 5, to whom be the glory forever and ever. What do you
say to that? Good answer. scriptural answer. You'll be saying that throughout
eternity. Get used to saying it. It's about time the redeemed
of the Lord need to get used to it. Men and women. I know
you ladies, many of you told me many times that you wanted
to shout out amen. Where does it say you can't do
that? It doesn't. I say go ahead. I say the way you remember my
daughter you know if you if we won't sing it she's somebody
should. You hear that honey say amen. Well I'm going to. And I'm permitted to teach and
you serve authority over my hand. It doesn't say you can't say
amen. I believe that. Brother. Amen. To whom be glory, that's
what we're going to say, the Amen. Let the Amen sound from
his people again. Amen. Amen means so be it. That means that's the way it
is. That means that's the way I like it. That's the way I want
it. But that's just the way it is. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Amen. To him. To him. It's all him.
It's all him. Deliverance. Deliver us from
the present evil world you see what God says about the world
are from loving the world because of the evil. According to these this perverted
thing you know if God just loves everybody so much and all we
just want to save the world. No he doesn't know he's causing
evil world. God doesn't say anything good
about mankind, nothing. He says that thoughts of his
imagination are only evil continually from his youth up. Look down
upon the sons of men and say they're altogether stinking.
Psalm 14, look it up for yourself. But God. Well, he says to the church at
Galatia, I marvel, verse 6 and 7, I marvel, I'm amazed, he says,
you're so soon removed from him that called you into the grace
of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another. That there
would be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel
of Christ. You see what he says? He said, this gospel that they're
calling gospel is not the gospel at all, it's a perversion, it's
a perverted gospel. It's not the gospel, they call
it that, but it's not the gospel. He Paul called it the gospel
of Christ there were seven in Romans one he called it God's
gospel didn't. And Paul said it's my gospel
our gospel didn't he said it's your gospel the gospel you receive
the one that gave you life the one that gave you. I had to see
and hear it there the one you received by his grace the gospel. There's a perversion out there
you know it so don't Is that all you hear today? These Galatians,
very quickly, these Galatians were being manipulated by self-righteous,
self-seeking evil men. And they're hard to tell, smooth
tongue, fair speech, you know, but see, the heart's simple,
and that's what these fellas did, and they looked good and
sounded good, and people thought they were good and had enough
truth to fool them. But they were trying to bring
back these Galatians under bondage to the Old Testament. That's
cheaply what they were doing, trying to bring them back under
bondage to the Old Testament law. And that's not unlike the
Amish today. You're hearing a lot about them
today. And I do feel sorry for those parents. I really do. Let's
not be calloused at all. I do feel sorry. But that religion is evil. Charming Baptist religion is
evil. reformed religion for the most
part. And if this goes out on this
website, I'm going to finally get some letters. One way or
another, this so-called reformed religion
today is evil. God's word here calls the gospel
the grace of Christ. period. Not the grace of Christ and, but he calls it the gospel of
the grace of Christ. The grace of Christ, verse six.
The grace of Christ. The gift of Christ. He is the
gift. From him, in him, to him, of
him, for him, through him, him. The grace of God what salvation
all about him right. Tell me the meaning of salvation.
Well how does one say Christ. Just ask a question and I'll
answer it. One word Christ. Christ and grace are synonymous.
How's a man accepted with Christ. How are we going to live with
God Christ. Will God hear us? Christ. Anything else, anything in addition
to that is a perverted gospel. Folks, it's so subtle. It's so
subtle. Knowledge of doctrine. By His knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many. By His knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many. By His knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many. There may come a day when I get
Alzheimer's and I won't even know what, I won't even be able
to pronounce the word of righteousness. But I've got one. And his name
is Jesus Christ the righteous. Well, I hate to stand before
God and try to articulate the gospel and drop down every God
every sentence and cross every tree, wouldn't you? Said it wrong
else. According to some men. I'm going to stand before God
someday. He's going to say something to me and I'm not going to say
a word. Christ is going to stand in front
of me and say, I'll answer everything for this man. Ask me. He broke laws he doesn't know
he broke. What's your hope? Let me rephrase
that. Who is your hope? Is your hope
what you know? Or who? Is it enough for an old
simple sinner to say, Christ is on. Will that grant entrance into
glory? Huh? That's all I'm hoping for. That's
all my hope. That's all my hope. Hmm. We'll find out, won't we? We
will find out. Though I understand all doctrine.
I have knowledge, I have the knowledge and the movement and
so forth. 1 Corinthians 13. Well he says and that's why I
say this you know this reformed religion. And they make it up
they make it an attainment of knowledge. And it's a real subtle
form of legalism. They won't say they're bringing
you back under the Old Testament law but they are. They are. God's gospel, the grace of Christ,
is what we're talking about. The gospel of Christ is what
we're talking about. It's a certified gospel. Now I'm going to tell
you about the certified gospel. God has certified it. You ever
have anything certified? Have you? Certified? I received, you've received letters
before, certified mail. That means somebody signed it, sealed it, It can't be certified unless
it's signed. It can't be certified unless the U.S. government seals
it. It can't be certified unless you receive it and it's delivered. I couldn't help but think about
that song, Signed, Sealed, Delivered. I'm yours. That's a good illustration,
isn't it? You like that? That's what this
gospel says. By God, God made this everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things, and sure predetermined, predestined
his people. That's what I said. God predestined
his people. Every one of them. He chose them,
he elected them, predestinated every one of them to be conformed
to the image of Jesus Christ. Put them in Jesus Christ for
salvation. Signed it. The Holy Spirit comes
and seals it. And that was a good deal by the
spirit of God is the fourth day or the evidence of what's working
for anyone sealed by the spirit of God by giving you this faith.
Delivered. Christ some days on the river.
To the top of. Your kids with a price. And feel. Hold I and the children which
thou hast given me, none of them is lost." Now isn't that good
news? Huh? Those that trust Christ,
I mean, those that really love Christ, His glory, God's glory,
those who are really looking to Jesus Christ only, this is
great news. It's not just good news. This
is great salvation. Great salvation. Certified. This
is a certified gospel. Well, here are some marks that
differ, show us the difference between this perverted gospel. Give me a few more minutes. I'm
enjoying this. Anybody else? This is the same old thing we've
heard for years, isn't it? This is a good sign. If you still
enjoy it, If you still hold fast the beginning of your conference,
right now, it's a good sign. Good sign. If you're hearing
this like, oh, you've never heard it before, like the first time,
that's a good sign. It's called good news. News! His mercies are new every
morning. An old sinner needs mercy every
morning. And when he hears about it, it's
good news. I remember one time, Brother
Stephen is working this morning, and I remember making a statement
that every day the slate is wiped clean. And that big old boy just
got a little blubbery. Ain't that good news? Blotted
out! All yesterday's sins are enough
to damn me. This morning, blotted out. Says the iniquity of Israel shall
be sought for. They're on a goat somewhere. Oh, man. I certify it, brethren. I certify it for the word of
God. This is it. Well, here's some marks that
differentiate the perverted The modern so-called gospel preaching
emphasizes entertainment and what you see, you know, miracle
signs and wonders. Come see what's going on. That's
what they say. Come see. Come see. So they build big elaborate
structures and give big choir. Come see. Come see. Come see.
Come see. The gospel needs nothing but a preacher
and a hearer. Come here. Come here. Don't need a big, fancy building
to hear, do you? And it's not music that saves
anybody. Nobody's ever saved by music.
Never. I love music as much as an expected
person. We're not going to spend our
time here doing that so people walk away saying, wasn't that
a pretty song? Didn't they have a pretty voice? No, no, no, no,
no. Preaching. preaching of the word
and praying calling on God's scriptural way to worship God
simple worship hearing of the word I see it. In it you're my
witness our witness that's all we do that's what God is pleased
to use that's all he's speaking first Corinthians one twenty
one. The modern perverted Gospel is a mental agreement to fact,
you know, acceptance of a plan. You know, the Romans wrote, you
agree to this, you agree to that, you do believe this, this, this,
this, this and so forth. Look at verse seven, verse sixteen.
The certified gospel is a revelation of Christ within. He said when
he revealed his son in me. It's a huge difference, isn't
it? I knew the doctrines from a child. I don't know right. Revelation new birth to the birth. New heart. New heart. It's life. It's life from the
day. And it really is. The perverted
gospel emphasizes a change of ways, you know, change, he changed
his ways. The gospel gives a change of
heart. A new heart I'll give him, he said. A new master. It's
a change of master. New ownership. You're not your
own anymore. He bought the price. The perverted gospel, so-called,
makes heaven the primary goal. Heaven is there. Everybody wants
to go to heaven, so that's why there's so many Christians today.
Everybody wants to go to heaven. You want to see mama, don't you?
Well, yeah, that's what I'm hoping for more than anything else,
is to see mama. Here's what a man of God's own
heart says in Psalm 73. He said, Whom have I in heaven
but thee? Talking about Christ. And there's
none on earth I desire beside thee. Seek for the true believer.
This is what God does to a true believer. He makes Christ the
prize. Christ is the prize. Christ is
heaven. The people of God, you see, they're
already in heaven. I've got a taste of it, anyway.
That's the reason they're so loathe to leave here. This is
a foretaste of that. They say, like Peter, let's just
stay and build three tabernacles right here. Stay here. Lord,
let's don't leave this mountain, Mount Zion. Don't want to. Someday
we won't have to, Nancy. Someday we won't have to. We
won't have to leave. We won't have to go out in that
evil world anymore. Now, you know what I'm saying. I'm not saying that we're better
than them. No, no, no, no. We started out talking about
grace, didn't we? We're going to end up talking
about it. Well, the modern perverted gospel
calls for a decision. Make your decision. The true
gospel is a call for mercy. people calling for mercy. Big
difference. The modern perverted gospel calls
on man. It's calling on man, man, man,
man, man, woman, woman. The gospel has men calling on
God. The modern perverted gospel calls
on man to stand up, stand up, be counted. The gospel, the true
gospel, certified gospel says be still. It says bow down. The modern perverted gospel says,
make your voice heard. The gospel, the certified gospel
says, let your words be fear. One word. Amen. One word. The gospel says, no
fear, no fear. Oh, the, I mean, the perverted
gospel says, no fear, no fear. Perverted gospel, no fear. The
certified gospel says, "...unite our hearts to fear thy name."
The fear of the Lord is beginning with fear. The perverted gospel,
modern perverted gospel, is an offer to man. An offer, which
incidentally, that word is not in the Bible. Offer to man. The certified gospel
is an offer to God. All the difference. All the difference. It's an offer Jesus Christ made
to God for His people. It's not an offer to men. He's not ours to offer. That's
what the Methodists, that's what they all say. All of them across
the board, that's what they say. The big old sign out on 460 going
to Lynchburg by some Baptist place says, the offer still stands.
That's blasphemy. Jesus Christ didn't make an offer
to man. He made an offer to God, and
God accepted it. Whoever he made it on behalf
of, John Davis, God accepted it. It does stand that what he
made still stands, and it will forever stand. The modern perverted
gospel says it's an offer to be accepted or rejected. The
certified gospel says this is a covenant that's been ratified. The modern perverted gospel makes
out God to be a bystander in the affairs of this world. Can't
do anything. He's a bystander in the affairs
of this world. Boy, I'm looking forward to saying
this. The certified gospel declares
that God is God in every sense of the word. that God is absolute
control over all things down to the particles of dust in the
moon in the sunlight coming through the window. The path of those
have been predestined by God. Yes sir. Yes ma'am. These certified
gospels said God purposed all things. God ordered all things
and God predestined all things in their share. That's the God
of the Bible. That's certified. Look it up. Certified. It's a
certified gospel. The modern perverted gospel says
their Jesus is a frustrated failure, that he tried and failed. He
wants to and can't. He hopes to and he'll do it.
The certified gospel, you want to hear this? The certified gospel
says he's satisfied, he's not even discouraged, Isaiah 42 says. He's satisfied, he's successful,
and he's what? Seated! No priest in the Old
Testament ever sat down. They never finished what they
did. Nothing they ever did was effectual. One night... I'm going to go ahead and get
started. He's satisfied, he's successful,
and he's what? Seated! No priest in the Old
Testament ever sat down. They never finished what they
did. Nothing they ever did was effectual. One man.