Here I Stand
By
Rev John C. Orlando, Jr.
Announce
Passage: Galatians 1:1 - 10
Background:
On his first
missionary journey, Paul won many to Christ and established several churches in
Galatia. After he left, false teachers came to these churches.
Theme: Galatians stands as an eloquent and vigorous defense of the essential truth that amn is justified by faith in Christ alone, nothing less and nothing more. The rediscovery of the basic message of Galatians brought about the Reformation, and it is often called “Luther’s Book” because Martin Luther relied so heavily on this letter in his arguments against the prevailing theology of his day.
Read
Scripture
Pray
Intro:
Brief
bio of Martin Luther:
1. Roman Catholic church only church in the West
2. 1505: Luther’s takes monks vow
3. His struggles to attain righteousness
4. 1515: His conversion experience:
5. Oct 31, 1517: 95 Theses
6. 1521 Diet of Worms: His stand against the church:
“Unless
I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of
popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is
captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go
against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do
otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
I’d like to borrow that statement from Martin Luther for the title of this sermon…Here I Stand.
The church in Luther’s day had compromised the Gospel because they had turned from God’s Word alone as its only rule for faith and practice. Luther’s statement was a statement of conviction that it is in the Scriptures alone, God’s very words, that we find the only reliable and infallible source for faith and practice, and it is only by adhering to that that we can ever see the Gospel for all that it is and defend it from error.
Individually and collectively, compromise presents itself in many ways. We must, however, like Luther, be absolutely committed to the authority of the Scriptures alone, exalting the message and the cross of Christ, and defending the truth regardless of the consequences.
The Apostle Paul in the Book of Galatians was faced with similar concerns. In dealing the infiltration of false teachers, Paul had to take a stand for the Gospel regardless of the consequences. Paul does that throughout the book by first making a personal argument where he defends his authority as an apostle, then a doctrinal argument where he sets forth the clear teaching of Scripture, and finally a Practical argument where he appeals to the practical experience of his readers. In this opening chapter, Paul sets forth the framework and theme of the entire the letter. In taking his stand, Paul first:
I.
Describes the Basis of His Authority
A. One would only be expected to follow a proper authority:
These churches challenged the apostleship of Paul, and by challenging that, they challenged the message he had preached to them. Paul defends his position as an apostle, saying…
1. Not through from men but through Jesus Christ and God the Father. It wasn’t by any man, or any group of men, rather, it was directly by God!
2. Affirms Deity of Christ in the process.
3. The false teachers wanted to replace the authority of the word of God with their own doctrines and teachings
B. Similar Problem in the
Church today
1. We have replaced the Scriptures with polls, opinions, and "feelings" as the standard of truth that we abide by or to determine what course of action to take
-- Read excerpt from Table Talk, pg. 52, 53
2. We must turn to, and stand upon the Scriptures alone
C. The Scripture Alone is
our sole infallible rule for faith and practice
1. The Formal cause of the Reformation – The only thing that can bind the conscience of a Christian is the Word of God. All of our actions should have a Biblical basis
John McAurthur, “Scripture alone speaks with an authority that transcends every other voice.”
2. The importance of it: When we place other things above or equal to Scripture, we move from truth to error, and end up distorting the message of Scripture
Which takes me to my second point; Paul after having established his authority, now …
II.
Declares The True Gospel
A. Read Verse 4 - This brief synopsis covers the key points of the Gospel. Paul would later expand on these points by showing that justification was by faith alone and not by keeping the law. But his readers already knew the message, because this is what he had preached to them on his missionary journey (see Acts 13:39)
B. Gave Himself for our sins – The substitutionary nature of the atonement.
C. Delivers us from this
present evil age
All of post-fall history of mankind, up to the Second Coming of Christ. What Paul is saying is that Christ has set us free from the ravages and consequences of sin.
D. According to the will of God the Father – For God so loved…He gave.
E. We must know the
Gospel to tell the Gospel
But it is not enough to simply tell the Gospel, we must also be prepared to defend the Gospel. Thus, Paul now
III.
Denounces False Gospels
A. Verse 6: Marvels at the turning away so soon – Paul, the ex-Pharisee, really understood just how “good” the “good news” is.
B. Not really a “gospel”
-- The mountain of religious works cannot be climbed
C. Illustrate: The conversion of Luther: Romans 1:17: For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”’
This was the message that Luther and the Reformers fought to restore
D. Perverts the Gospel of Christ
-- Takes the truth and mixes it with the lie
-- The Church today must recognize and denounce the heresy when it appears
E. Accursed. The Greek word is “anathema” meaning “set aside for destruction.” We must get the message right!” One could have a lot “right things” to say, but if he is wrong on the Gospel, he is in perilous trouble.
IV.
Desires to Please Christ Alone
A. “Persuade men” – The Greek word carries the idea of seeking and/or gaining approval. Paul is saying that he isn’t concerned about gaining the approval of men, but of God. How was it possible for Paul, and how is it possible for us, to have and maintain that same attitude? Answer: Paul says he’s a “bondservant of Christ”. We must be slaves for Christ.
B. Pleasing men
C. Pleasing Christ
-- Bondservants--- Have no choice but to obey regardless of the consequences
Conclusion
Individually and collectively, the biggest challenge that faces us is the prospect of compromise. It sneaks up on us, pounces on us before we even realize it, and the consequences are usually dire indeed. We must be vigilant. If we, like Luther, and Paul before him, are to hold fast to the truth we must:
Stand on the only sufficient authority, Sacred Scripture
Boldly declare the message of the cross
Confront and denounce false gospels
Be absolutely committed to Christ.
Instead of us conforming to the world, or trying to appeal to the world, our message to the world should be:
Here is the church which has as its sole infallible source the very word of God.
Here is the message that God has announced, the Good News of the Jesus Christ.
Here is how God has commanded that we come before Him,
and here is how He has prescribed that we worship Him.
We will not move! We will not budge! We will not compromise! Let God be true and every man a liar! Here we stand, we cannot do otherwise. Amen.