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Monday, March 12, 2012

The Exclusive Message of Jesus Christ


Jesus Christ came to set us free from the bondages of sin; Paul was concerned that the believers could be moved from the simplicity of the truth found in Jesus Christ!
The Exclusive Message of Jesus Christ
Galatians 1

Galatians 1:1  Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),  2  and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia : 

Paul was an apostle through Jesus Christ.  Because of his strong teaching on grace there were those who criticized him and tried to cast doubts upon his apostleship.  

1 Corinthians 9:2  If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Here in another passage we find Paul had critics and doubted his calling.  Men’s affirmation does make you nor does man’s criticism take away from who God says you are .  Your confidence needs to remain in your God.

Galatians 1:3  Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,  4  who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,  5  to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen

Paul in a nutshell declares the gospel of Jesus Christ here in Galatians 1.  The purpose of God is declared.  Jesus gave Himself for our sin and delivers us from this present evil age.  Those who walk with victory over sin bring glory to God.  Jesus came for our complete deliverance.

Galatians 1:6  I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,  7  which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  8  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

What is it that the Apostle Paul was anxious to protect?  There is a stern warning that is written here in Galatians 1.  The book of Galatians is written that there will be no departure of the truth.  Salvation is all about the deliverance from the present evil age.  We have been called in the grace of Christ; that which draws away from the grace of Christ Jesus is called a perverted gospel.  Someone who preaches any other gospel to us is to be accursed.  What a strong warning!

Galatians 1:9  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you 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 still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.  11  But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  12  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul again repeats the warning, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.  Whatever this gospel that Paul is preaching, it leaves you being a bondservant of Christ.  The truth does not seek to please man but to please Christ.  Paul came to the knowledge of the gospel through the revelation of Jesus Christ.  What you think of Jesus Christ determines your destiny.  Your destiny in this life as well as the life to come.  The teaching that Paul received came by first hand revelation.  It is time for the church to know what we believe by first hand revelation of Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:32  "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

The word of grace is able to build you up and give you and inheritance among all those who are being sanctified.  Our hearts need to be established by the word of God’s grace.  We must learn to trust in the divine influence of the word of God.  God give us first hand revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:13  For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.  14  And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.  15  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,  16  to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,  17  nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

It pleased God to reveal His Son Jesus Christ in Paul.  God had called Paul to preach Jesus Christ among the Gentiles.  Paul did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did he go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him.  The apostle Paul was preaching grace by first hand revelation.  It is time for the called of God to get in their prayer closets and come out preaching that which the Holy Spirit speaks to them.  We all need to be partakers of the new mercies of God; His mercies are new every morning partake of them fully. 

Galatians 1:18  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.  19  But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.  20  (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)  21  Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia .  22  And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.  23  But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."  24  And they glorified God in me.

What is the great revelation that Paul was preaching before he ever met any of the other apostles.  What is this 1st hand revelation we should walk in?

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

It is indeed the message the just shall live by faith.  It is the message that the object of our faith ever remain in the Lord Jesus Christ and not be moved. 

2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  4  For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted; you may well put up with it!

There is the simplicity that is in Christ that we must not be removed from!

1 Corinthians 1:17  For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.  18  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  19  For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."  20  Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  22  For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;  23  but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,  24  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The gospel message is to preach Jesus Christ crucified.  Jesus became the only sin offering that would appease a holy God.  The message of the cross is the power of God. 

1 John 2:1  My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  2  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Beloved we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  Jesus Himself is the propitiation for our sins.

1 Corinthians 2:1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  2  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Oh that the church would come to the conclusion the apostle Paul did.  “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  Victory over sin is exclusively found in the cross.

Hebrews 3:1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Consider Jesus Christ the Apostle and High Priest of our confession!  Who is Jesus?  The scripture admonishes us to consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Is your confession that Jesus is your High Priest?  Is your confession that Jesus is the Apostle of your confession..  Jesus is your great intercessor. 

Hebrews 3:2  who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.  3  For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.  :4  For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.  5  And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Two households are represented in this passage.  Moses as a servant was faithful under the covenant of the law and Jesus Christ as a Son is faithful over His household of grace and truth.  If you holdfast you are a part of the household of faith.

John 8:32  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  33  They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"  34  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

If Jesus sets you free from sin you are a son that abides in the house forever; never to be sold as a slave.  Never be moved away from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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