DCLM Bible Study: THE PRESERVATION OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
Also read previous other DCLM Bible study by Pastor W.F Kumuyi
Text: Galatians 1:1-5
As we look at the purpose of the writing of this Epistle, it is to preserve the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Galatian Christians were going away from the gospel of Christ to other works of the law, so Paul the Apostle was concerned that we returned to the gospel of Christ. And he, first of all, emphasised his authority as an Apostle called, anointed and approved of
God.
1. PAUL, AN APOSTLE, APPOINTED BY CHRIST AND GOD
Galatians 1:1-2
“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” (Galatians 1:1). You have to become a member of the Body of Christ before you can become a minister in the Body of Christ. You can receive a call to repentance before you can receive a call to be an apostle and servant of Christ. Paul the Apostle received that call to repentance before he became an apostle. You must receive the call to repentance and righteousness before you can become a preacher of the word of God. And in between that repentance and righteousness is restitution. That the things you have stolen in the past, you must make your restitution, correct all the past wrongs before God and men. It is then you can take the word of God to others.
There is the (i) The Call to Salvation, and (ii) The Call to Sanctification and then there is the (iii) The Call to Service.
(i) HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES – Galatians 1:1-2; Acts 9:6,15- 16; 26:16-19; 2 Timothy 1:11-12.
When God calls a man for a particular appointment, we will see the evidence of the work of God upon his life. “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). Paul asked the question; he did not just jump into the ministry as Peter and the other disciples were doing before his call. Also, he was told what to do, not just picking up a ministry to do. He had assurance, for the Lord spoke to him, and sent another minister to speak to him, “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the
which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:16-18). It is the Lord that makes. And if you have not seen the salvation, transformation and regeneration of the heart, you cannot witness to this salvation and other those
experiences. If you are going to be a witness, you must have seen. Paul was chosen for a purpose not to go and learn their traditions and ways of life, but to open their eyes and turn their hearts from Satan and idols to God. Paul took inventory of his life, so you just take inventory of your life daily, at the end of the year or quarter, you must ask yourself if you are fulfilling the purpose of your calling (Acts 26:19).
(ii) HIS ASSIGNMENT AS AN AMBASSADOR WITH GRACE – Ephesians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11; Ephesians 3:8.
Paul knew himself to be an ambassador, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19-20). Those Gentiles did not know, for they were blinded by Satan, but Paul came with the Gospel knowledge, and their eyes were opened. As he said that he was an apostle, he was sure that he was an ambassador. And he was arrested and put in bonds before the early kingdom did not understand him. For salvation, sanctification and service we need grace (1 Corinthians 3:10). There is grace for everything we are called to in the kingdom of God, for restitution, living the righteous life, serving the Lord, we need grace. The assignment for him was to lay the foundation of repentance, faith in Christ, definite work of grace in the hearts of people listening to us. Are you saved? Is the foundation of salvation, sanctification, readiness for the Rapture, Holy Ghost Baptism, evangelism, restitution in your life? The Lord wants us to recollect the foundation so that we can fulfil the assignment given to us as an ambassador. “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” (Ephesians 3:8). That is the assignment.
(iii) HIS AUTHORITY AND ANCHOR IN THE GOSPEL – Galatians 1:11-12; Romans 2:16; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 2:8-12.
“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man” (Galatians 1:11). His authority came for Heaven, and he knew that anywhere he goes to preach the gospel, heaven will back him up, so he was not afraid of men. He got the gospel and revelation from God that is higher than any angels or the apostles before him, and they could not argue with him (Galatians 1:12).
2. PEACE, ACCEPTED AND APPROPRIATED THROUGH CHRIST BY GRACE Galatians 1:3
You cannot do anything without having peace with God, you must reconcile and have peace with God before you can go out and tell others about the peace of God. Your name and authority will mean nothing without the peace of God
(i) PEACE THROUGH CONVERSION TO CHRIST – Romans 3:10-17; Ephesians 2:12-14; Romans 5:1-2; Acts 10:36.
The sinner, hardened, common, habitual, nominal churchgoer, religious ones, the one who is not doing his restitution does not have peace (Romans 3:10-17). If we are going to have peace, we have peace through conversion to Christ. Through conversion, peace comes into your life, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2). Do you have that peace when you remember the judgement day, the damnation of sinners, that God is angry with the wicked every day, that God sees, knows and have knowledge of everything you have done, they are written down in His books of records? But if you can come to Christ now in true repentance and faith in His atonement, then peace comes into your life, and then there is no fear in your heart again (Acts 10:36).
(ii) PEACE WITH CONFORMITY TO CHRIST – Philippians 4:7-9; Colossians 3:14-15; Romans 14:17-19; 2 Peter 3:11-14.
You come to know the Lord, and the peace of God is now in your life, that peace will not allow you to go back to the old life, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:7-9). Now that you have peace with God, you now think on things that are good, honest, no more cruelty, injustice in your life and heart, impurity, no more vice in your life anymore,but virtues. As a Christian, you don’t live a secretive life that people cannot know your life. If you are truly born again, ether will righteousness. If there is unrighteousness, secret sin, there will be no peace, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). You have righteousness, joy in the Holy Ghost and then peace. Endeavour to live in peace with all men, don’t be a trouble maker, formatting troubles all the time (Romans 14:18-19). You want to make sure that all the texts, images, videos that you are sharing should make for holy conversation among other people, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” (2 Peter 3:11). The time will come when the fire from the Lord will dissolve all the temporary things that people give their lives to, and not think of eternity. The unrighteous will not get to Heaven, but we who are looking forward and getting ready for heaven will get there as we comport our lives in peace, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14). Some people sleep over anger, abuse, insults, fights, conflicts, heaven does not recognise them as Christians ready for Heaven. Those who know that Christ can come at any time, will not get into
argument over mundane and temporary things of the earth.
(iii) PEACE WITHOUT CORRUPTION IN CHARACTER – Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 6:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:13,23; 2 Corinthians 13:11.
The peace that Christians have do not get that peace based on compromise and corruption. Jesus did not compromise with the Pharisees to be at peace with them. We don’t apologise for the Truth of the Word of God. You don’t buy or support their evil deeds to be at peace with the sinners. We don’t keep peace at the expense of our souls and faith. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Hebrews 12:14). We must have holiness along with peace with all men. If there is no holiness in it, you cannot have peace with them. The peace must not cancel sanctification and the word of God in our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:13,23). Daniel did not compromise with all those rulers in Babylon to have peace with them, nor did the three Hebrew Children compromise with king Nebuchadnezzar to be at peace with him. They refused to bow down to the image of the king, and they were thrown into the fire, but the fire did not burn them because the Son of God was with them. “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11). How are that husband and wife, you argue every day, who cannot live in peace? That salvation is local, not that of Heaven. But we will live in peace, and the God of peace shall be with you.
3. PURPOSE OF ATONEMENT FOR ALL BY CHRIST IN GOD Galatians 1:4-5
The purpose of Christ atonement is for all and He can use that purpose of the atonement for all by Christ in God.
(i) HIS DEATH FOR OUR DELIVERANCE FROM THE PRESENT EVIL WORLD – Galatians 1:4; Titus 2:14; 1 John 3:4-10; Hebrews 9:14-15,22,27-28.
“Who gave himself for our sins,” (Galatians 1:4). He gave Himself not to leave us in the dungeon of sin, but Christ gave Himself to deliver us and take us out of that sin. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Christ has the power to deliver from all sin, except the sin that
you are holding on to that will drag you into eternity perdition. Christ has the power to deliver from all sins. He that sins is yielding to the author of sin which is the devil, he is under the control and dominion of Satan like what Adam and Eve did at the beginning, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
(ii) THE DANGER AND DAMNATION OF THE PERVERTED EVIL WORLD – 2 Corinthians 4:3- 4; John 8:44; James 4:4; Matthew 23:14-15,33.
This perverted evil world is under the dominion and control of Satan. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are
lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4). If you are not born again or you backslide, the gods of this world have blindfolded you. The people who go to befriend the world for the perversion, pollution and corruption, become the enemies of God, and they come under condemnation (James 4:4). If you are a liar, habitual, playful, deliberate, delighted liar, you are of the devil, for it cannot be God, nor Christ nor the Holy Ghost Who is the Spirit of Truth (John 8:44). It
is only through repentance, restitution, righteousness and faith in Christ that we can escape the damnation of hell (Matthew 23:33).
(iii) OUR DELIVERANCE AND DOMINION OVER THE POLLUTED ENSNARING WORLD – Galatians 1:4-5; 6:14-16; John 17:14-17; 1 John 5:4-5; Hebrews 2:14-18.
Look at the Son of God that left His glory in Heaven, and died for you, so that you can have deliverance and salvation from the ensnaring world (Galatians 1:4). If you are practising your Christianity, and the world, the old friends are still in love with you, then you are not a Christian, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). We have work to do, that is why He has left us on earth. We are to go into the world to preach the gospel and to turn them frothier pollutions unto God, not to bring the world into the Church (John 17:15-16). “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18). The wicked one will not touch you, and God will give you the grace to be watchful and vigilant. And you will be a conqueror in Jesus Name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
