The Full GospelSample

No Other Gospel // The Gospel According to Galatians

Today, we’re looking at the gospel in the Book of Galatians. We’re going to focus on three big things:

1. There is only one true gospel.
2. Grace is received, not achieved.
3. Love is our response.

The Apostle Paul doesn’t waste any time in this letter. In fact, he presents the gospel twice during the introduction:

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers and sisters with me, to the churches in Galatia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:1-5 NIV

Did you catch that? Paul begins by reminding us the good news that God raised Jesus, our Savior King and the Son of God, from the dead! And then he doubles down by saying it all again, but in a slightly different way.

Why is he doing this? Because the Christians in Galatia were turning to a different gospel:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. … Galatians 1:6-7 NIV

There is only one true gospel. Sadly, throughout history, people have distorted the original message of Jesus into something that is empty of power. If we aren’t careful, we can fall into the same trap that the recipients of Paul’s letter did: choosing to believe in a false version of our faith.

This is why it matters that we know and understand the true gospel—the full gospel. What we believe about the gospel absolutely influences everything about how we relate to God. Paul takes this so seriously that he goes on to write:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Galatians 1:8-9 NIV

We can only discern whether or not we’re hearing the true gospel by learning what it really is. The true gospel is what Jesus preached—and what Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul have all written about. The more we familiarize ourselves with the true gospel, the quicker we can spot false gospels.

The Christians in Galatia were given a false gospel that told them faith in Jesus was not enough to be saved. They were tricked into thinking grace was something they had to achieve by living out the Jewish laws, even if they weren’t Jewish. To correct their misunderstanding, Paul tells them:

“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.… For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:15-16, 19-21 NIV

From the beginning, the gospel has always been about faith in God. The Old Testament law was a good and necessary thing that served a purpose for a time. But because of the gospel that Jesus brought into the world, its purpose was fulfilled.

Now, entrance into God’s kingdom is available to all people—Jews and Gentiles. It doesn’t come through obedience to the law, but through faith in Jesus. Grace is received, not achieved.

Any version of the gospel that says you have to work your way to God is making the claim that the work Jesus did wasn’t good enough.

Tragically, this distortion of the gospel wasn’t just something people believed back then. It’s something people struggle with today. In many ways, it makes sense that this is hard for us to believe. By definition, grace is something we don’t deserve. It’s a gift God offers because He loves us. And it’s something we cannot earn. If we could, it wouldn’t be a gift. It would be a reward.

The question then becomes: How do we best respond to the gift of God’s grace?

In chapter five, Paul answers this question:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. … For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:1, 6 NIV

Jesus’ gospel brings freedom to all who choose to trust in Him, not through our works, but because of His finished work on the cross. As recipients of grace, we respond to God with faith expressing itself through love.

What is faith? It’s trust, based on evidence, that leads to obedience.
What is love? It’s a choice to sacrifice ourselves for the good of others.

We give up what we want by surrendering to God’s will, and we do what we can to serve those who are made in His image.

And thankfully, because of the gospel, this isn’t something we have to do in our own strength. It’s something we do in partnership with the Holy Spirit, who changes us from the inside out to make us more like Jesus.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. … the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:16, 22-23 NIV