What is the “Damned Gospel”? What is the “Damned Gospel”? Lance Gowen Lost Valley 2011

What is the

“DamnedGospel”?

Lance Gowen Lost Valley 2011

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we find 2 opposing plans of salvation:

1) Paul’s gospel of Jesus Christ

2) A counterfeit “gospel” whose teachers Paul damns

Introduction

Objectives:

Gain a clear understanding of the “damned gospel”

Encourage you in your own personal Bible study by working through my Bible study of Galatians 2:1-14

Galatians Background

~47 AD: Paul and Barnabas evangelize south central Turkey

After Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch, Jewish teachers travel to Turkey and present a different plan of salvation to Paul’s converts

Galatians Background

The false teacher’s message differed from Paul’s in 2 main areas:

1) All Paul taught you was 2nd hand — he received it from the apostles, not from Jesus directly

2) He left out an essential part of the gospel message

Galatians 1:6-9 (NET Bible)

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel –

7 not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!

9 As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!

Galatians Background (cont’d)

Anyone—including devout, educated, professing believers—who teaches a gospel other than the one Paul preached to the Galatians is:

Galatians Background (cont’d)

Accursed

Damned

On their way to hell

1) What were the false teachers teaching?

2) How did what these Jewish teachers taught differ from Paul’s gospel?

3) The fury with which Paul attacks these heretical teachers is unequaled anywhere else in his letters. No one else gets under Paul’s skin like these guys. The question is, why?

Background Questionsfrom Galatians 1:6-9

Bible StudyFun, Profitable, Essential

To quote Walt, “thinking is simply asking and answering questions.” As you read and reread the passage you are studying, write down all of the, “I wonder...” questions that pop into your mind. Don’t write down only questions you think you can answer. The questions you can’t answer easily are often the questions that end up being the most profitable for advancing your understanding.

Bible StudyFun, Profitable, Essential

The most important part of Bible study is thinking. The goal is to think into your own understanding what it is the author is saying.

The best written material on how to do Bible study is Studying, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible by Walter A. Henrichsen and Gayle Jackson. If you don’t own it, I would encourage you to purchase and read it.

Bible StudyFun, Profitable, Essential (cont’d)

Process: You need to 1st do your own personal Bible study. Then you need to interact with the incredible resources available today: dictionaries, lexicons, commentaries, encyclopedias. Many of these tools are available online. Finally, you need to interact with others in a small group Bible study.

There are 2 stories in Galatians 2:1-14:

o Narrative #1: Galatians 2:1-10

o Narrative #2: Galatians 2:11-14

Galatians 2:1-14

Ask “big picture” questions when beginning a Bible

study

1) Why did Paul include these two narratives at the front-end of some very dense theological material?

2) What role do these 2 narratives play in the message of the letter?

Galatians 2:1-14Introductory “Big Picture” Questions

Narrative #1

Galatians 2:1-10

1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. 5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.

Galatians 2:1-10 (NASB)

Galatians 2:1-10 Setting Questions

1) Who are the cast members in the play?

o Galatians 2:1, 2, 4 and 9

1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I {Paul} went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. 5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas {Peter} and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.


Meeting Attendees Galatians 2:1-10

Paul

Barnabas

Titus

Out-of-Town Guests

“Those of Reputation”

Peter

John

James

False brothers

True brothers (?)

Narrative Setting and Sequencing

Setting:Where do the events of Galatians 2:1-10 take place?

What is the stage setting?

Probably the home of one of the apostles

Sequence of events: What occurred in the “private meeting” (2:2-3)?

Paul presented the gospel he preached to the Gentiles (2:2)

The false brothers pressured Titus to be circumcised (2:3)

Titus, supported by Paul and Barnabas, refused (2:3)

The apostles accepted Paul’s gospel and extended to Paul and Barnabas “the right hand of fellowship” (2:9)

How does Paul describe the “false brothers” (2:4)?

Galatians 2:1-10 Questions

Galatians 2:4-5

4 Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.

5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

Galatians 2:1-10 Questions (cont’d)

False Brothers

What makes the “false brothers” false brothers? Why does Paul label them unbelievers? (Ostensibly not only were the attendees all believers, they were “those of reputation,” leaders in the Jerusalem church.)

How did the “false brothers” get into this private meeting? Did Peter, James, and John realize the men Paul calls “false brothers” were in fact not saved?


False Brothers (cont’d)

What is the connection between the “false brothers” and the damnable gospel of 1:6-9?

Why did Paul place this story about the private meeting in Jerusalem after criticizing those distorting his gospel in Turkey (1:6-9)?

The “false brothers” were leaders in the Jerusalem church, but in reality they were unbelievers…

They thought faith in Jesus was, by itself, insufficient for salvation

They denied the exclusive sufficiency of the atoning cross work of Christ

They tried to compel Titus to be circumcised because they thought it was essential for his salvation.

In Summary…

Paul refused to allow Titus to be circumcised because for Titus to do so not only meant Titus had no reason to think he was saved, but also would effectively be a

repudiation of Paul’s gospel of Jesus Christ.

Faith alone saves

Ultimate destiny: Heaven

Paul’s Gospel accepted by

James, Peter, John

Paul vs. the False Brothers

Works play an essential

role in salvation

Ultimate destiny: Hell

“Damned Gospel” rejected

by James, Peter, John (?)

Paul & Barnabas False Brothers

The “damned gospel” Paul combats in the private meeting has been and is the most damaging heresy to assault “the truth of the gospel” over the past 2,000 years. What was called Christianity between Paul and Luther was not the gospel Paul preached; it was the “damned gospel” the “false brothers” preached, the gospel Paul damns in Galatians 1:6-9.

o The church merely substituted baptism, communion, catechism, penance, prayer, etc., for circumcision and Law observance, as necessary for salvation.

Galatians 2:1-10Practical Considerations

Galatians 2:1-10Practical Considerations (cont’d)

If a church, organization or individual teaches that baptism, church attendance or membership, communion, last rites, tithing, or anything else plays any role in salvation or paying for sin, they are teaching heresy. As we read in Galatians chapter 1, Paul says:

o Anyone teaching this heresy is damned

o Anyone who believes this teaching has no reason to think they are saved


If you are witnessing or doing Bible study with someone that has been influenced by the “damned gospel”, my suggestion would be that, early in your interaction with them, you help them understand what Paul says about “the truth of the gospel” in Galatians.


What is your understanding of “the truth of the gospel”?

Do you personally believe that your salvation, your eternal life, is based on your faith in Jesus + nothing?

Do you understand that, if you think

anything more than believing in Jesus is necessary for your salvation, you have no Biblical reason to think you are saved?

Narrative #2

Galatians 2:11-14

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I {Paul} opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?


Act 1: Peter is in Antioch, fellowshipping and dining with the Jewish and Gentile believers.

Act 2: “Certain men come from James;” Peter becomes afraid “of the circumcision party.”

Act 3: Peter, Barnabas, and the rest of the Jewish believers stop dining with the Gentile believers.

Act 4: Paul, in front of all the believers, rebukes Peter.

Galatians 2:11-14

1) How do the events found in Galatians 2:11-14 relate to the heretical “gospel” being propagated in Turkey?

2) What (if any) connection is there between the narrative in 2:1-10 and the narrative in 2:11-14?

Galatians 2:11-14 vs. 2:1-10

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I {Paul} opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.

13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I {Paul} went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.

2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.

7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised

8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),

9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Galatians 2:1-10 Galatians 2:11-14

Galatians 2:11-14 Questions

Why does Paul go ballistic and publicly rake Peter over the coals? What did Peter do that got Paul so upset?

o Galatians 2:13-14

13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

What Did Peter Do?Galatians 2:13-14


Actions speak louder than words…

1) What was it Peter did that constituted hypocrisy? Why?

2) In what sense, or in what way, were he and the other Jews “not straightforward about the truth of the gospel?” Up to this point in the story, the gospel hasn’t been mentioned.

3) How was Peter compelling the Gentiles to live like the Jews?

Why does Paul include this 2nd narrative? What additional do we learn?

This narrative addresses the need to be careful about our communication, in word and deed, regarding the gospel.


Peter

Believed salvation was by faith alone + nothing.

When he inadvertently pressured the Gentile believers to observe the Mosaic Law as part of their salvation, he acted inconsistent with his belief system.

Had good/pure motives.

False Brothers/Teachers

Believed salvation was by faith in Jesus + observing the Law.

In pressuring Titus to be circumcised, they acted consistent with their belief system.

Had impure, self-serving motives.

Peter vs. the False Brothers

Paul adamantly opposes tampering that could nullify the gospel

: :Paul refuses

to let Titus be circumcised in Jerusalem

Gal. 2:1-10

Connecting the Dots…

Paul curses the false

teachers in Turkey

Gal. 1:6-9

Paul confronts Peter for

compelling the Gentiles to live

like Jews in Antioch

Gal. 2:11-14

Implications

1) Biblical truth is hierarchical. Some truth trumps other truth. And “the truth of the gospel” is and must remain at the top of the pyramid.

2) Relationships are powerful. The actions of Peter in Antioch, however well intentioned, potentially had heaven-hell consequences. We need to be very careful and thoughtful in our dealings with each other.

Questions?

Documents

What is the “Damned Gospel”? What is the “Damned Gospel”? Lance Gowen Lost Valley 2011