There Can Only Be One

The true gospel

Scriptures: Galatians 1:1-12 and Galatians 2:15-21

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: The true gospel is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Think: Live with the assurance that I have eternal life through faith in Christ.

Do: Trust in Christ alone for salvation, and share the true gospel with others.

Notes and questions:

B1 False Gospels:

C1 Gospel of the Kingdom: repentance, baptism, faith that Jesus is Messiah and keep Moses’ Law. Source: here, here, and here. This is similar, if not the same, as the Judaism that Paul rebuked the Galatians and others.

C2 Faith plus works. Many believe this. There are the 3 sources above.

C3 Faith plus baptism, even just baptism.

C4 Being moral.

C5 The prosperity gospel, Social justice gospel, Unity gospel, All ways lead to heaven gospel, Self help, positive gospel, Mystical gospel. See the link for explanation.

C6 If someone believes into these gospels, they will end up in hell.

B2 Gospel Explained

C1 Only through Jesus Christ

D1 John 3:17 NRSV Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

D2 Acts 4:12 (MEV) There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

D3 1 Timothy 2:5 (MEV) There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

C2 After God initiates salvation and opens the heart of any human, they must request salvation: Acts 2:21 (MEV) And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

C3 Must believe God: Acts 16:31 NRSV They answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.

C4 Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ: Romans 5:9 NRSV Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.

C5 Through the resurrection (we must believe it) and life of Jesus Christ: Romans 5:10 NRSV For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

C6 After believing and being saved, we want to proclaim it: Romans 10:9-11 NRSV Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. (11) The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame.

D1 Matthew 10:32 NKJV Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

D2 1 John 4:15 NKJV Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

C7 Ask: Romans 10:13 NRSV For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

C8 John 20:31 NRSV But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

C9 An angel of God during the Tribulation also preaches the Gospel: Revelation 14:6-7 NRSV Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation and tribe and language and people. (7) He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.

B3 Only one Gospel. There are no multiple gospels

C1 Example 1—Abraham

D1 Moses wrote about it: Genesis 15:6 NKJV And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

D2 Paul wrote to the Romans about it: Romans 4:3 NRSV For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

D3 Paul wrote to the Galatians about it: Galatians 3:6 NRSV Just as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

D4 James wrote about it: James 2:23 NRSV Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.

C2 Example 2—Calling

D1 Joel writes: Joel 2:32 NKJV And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

D2 Peter preached: Acts 2:21 NKJV And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

D3 Paul writes: Romans 10:13 NKJV For Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

C3 Paul wrote: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NRSV Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, (2) through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. (3) For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, (4) and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.

B4 Galatians 1:1-12,

C1 Is faith really all a person needs to be saved?

C2 Galatians 1:3-5 NKJV Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 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, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

D1 Our Lord Jesus Christ

E1 Ours—believers

E2 Lord—King of kings and Lord of lords. We have submitted to Him.

E3 Jesus—the Jesus who is spoken of in the Bible.

E4 Christ—Messiah. He always has been Messiah and always will be.

E5 How should this affect us?

D2 Who gave Himself for our sins

E1 What does the word gave signify?

E2 Why is it important that it was Himself that He gave?

E3 What was His purpose?

D3 That He might deliver us from this present evil age

E1 What is the condition of our present age?

E2 Why should we be delivered from it?

D4 Why would God want this?

D5 Can anyone not glorify God?

C3 Galatians 1:6-12,

D1 What would be some reasons the Galatians are turning to another gospel?

D2 How do people distort the gospel?

D3 Why would they?

D4 What is God’s opinion of those who preach a false gospel?

D5 How does Paul know he preaches the correct gospel?

D6 How do we know what the true gospel is?

D7 What is the source of false doctrine?

B5 Galatians 2:15-21,

C1 Is the law written by Moses, who received it from God Himself, good?

C2 Can anyone keep the law? (James 2:10 GW If someone obeys all of God's laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them). Breaking God’s law can be in thoughts, desires, words, and/or deeds.

C3 What important points of doctrine can we learn from Galatians 2:16?

C4 Do people sin after becoming Christians?

C5 If we start trying to live by the law, what does that do to us?

D1 Consider this translation: Galatians 2:18-19 GNB92 If I start to rebuild the system of Law that I tore down, then I show myself to be someone who breaks the Law. So far as the Law is concerned, however, I am dead—killed by the Law itself—in order that I might live for God. I have been put to death with Christ on his cross.

D2 Adam Clarke on this passage: For if I build again the things which I destroyed] If I act like a Jew, and enjoin the observance of the law on the Gentiles, which I have repeatedly asserted and proved to be abolished by the death of Christ, then I build up what I destroyed, and thus make myself a transgressor, by not observing the law in that way in which I appear to enjoin the observance of it upon others.

D3 If someone wants to follow the law, do so, but if in doing you think it is necessary for salvation, you are a heretic. If you keep the law and think you are more spiritual than others, you are in grave error. And, you will be judged by God on the basis of keeping that Law, so you will fail.

D4 So called, Torah following Christians, feel it is important, necessary to follow God’s (Mosaic) Law. They do not, of course, but feel they are more spiritual and enlightened than others. But, Paul, the Apostle, stated that this Law is what condemned him to spiritual death, which is why he exclaims, “Galatians 2:20-21 WPNT I have been crucified with Christ, so it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; what I now live in this body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself in my place. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”

D5 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 NKJV who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

C6 Galatians 2:21 NKJV “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

D1 Is anyone more spiritual trying to keep the Law?

D2 Does righteousness come through the Law?

D3 Can we be more spiritual doing these works?

D4 Paul is not condemning the Law. Paul is saying that no one can be justified by keeping the Law. The Law condemns. The Law made Paul realize that he was a sinner and could not be justified by keeping the Law.

B6 Next week:

C1 It’s always been faith

C2 Theme: Justified by faith

C3 Scriptures: Galatians 3:1-29

Undivided

Theme: Unity in Christ

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:10-31

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: God desires for His followers to be united around their mission in Christ.

Think: View all believers as teammates in the mission to spread the gospel.

Do: Cultivate unity with other believers in order to spread the gospel

Notes and questions:

B1 1 Corinthians background

C1 Map

C2 About the city

D1 Made money from hauling goods from Lechaeum to Cenchrea.

D2 God was Aphrodite (Love and beauty)

D3 1,000 slave girls servicing the men at the temple

D4 Rome conquered and destroyed it

D5 Julius Caesar built a new city on this site in 46 BC

D6 Paul came to preach about 51 AD

D7 Pluralistic city with many cults

D8 Large population of Jews

D9 Legendary moral depravity (that was the heathen's opinion)

C3 About the church

D1 Luke wrote about their time in Corinth in Acts 18

D2 Paul was there with Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla

D3 Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians while there

D4 The church had many questions for Paul

D5 Paul had concerns about the beliefs and activities of the church

D6 Paul had to rebuke the Corinthians on false ideas and actions about the church, fellowship, the gospel, ministry, lawsuits, sexual sins, marriage, worship, spiritual gifts, the Lord's Supper, etc.

D7 The church needed correction about the doctrine of the resurrection

D8 1 Corinthians was written in Ephesus

D9 1 Corinthians was written about 55 AD

B2 Unity needs and is based on

C1 Truth

C2 Humility

C3 Scripture interpretation

C4 Faith

C5 Doctrine

C6 What else?

B3 Can you worship with

C1 Lutheran

C2 Church of Christ

C3 Seventh Day Adventist

C4 Roman Catholic

C5 Calvinist

C6 Arminian

C7 Pelagian

C8 Emergent

C9 New Apostolic Reformation

C10 Rob Bell

C11 Pope Francis

C12 Hebrew Roots

C13 Orthodox

C14 Episcopalian

C15 A Democrat

C16 A Republican

C17 A Libertarian

C18 A Socialist

B4 Could you be a member of all the above?

B5 Corinthian unity problems

C1 Not based on doctrine

C2 Not based on lifestyle

C3 Not based on socio-economic status

C4 Based on a “pillar” of the church as Paul, Christ, Apollos, or Cephas

C5 What is the main problem with this elevating a person and aligning with them?

B6 1 Corinthians 1:10-17,

C1 1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV  Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Is this even possible today?

C2 1 Corinthians 1:11 NKJV  For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.

D1 Contentions:

E1 Is used 9 times in the New Testament

E2 Is the Greek word: ἔρις eris

E3 Means: arguing

E4 They are not discussing issues; they are in each other’s face in argument. These arguments were emotional enough that they were causing splits in the church.

D2 When is something a conviction? When is something a convenience? What is the difference?

D3 What are convictions based on? What about convenience?

D4 Daniel 1:8 NKJV  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

E1 Is this conviction or convenience?

E2 What was his conviction based on?

E3 It was based on God’s law given through Moses. Was Daniel “saved” by keeping this law?

C3 1 Corinthians 1:12-13 NKJV  Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."  (13)  Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

D1 What was the core problem with the brethren? Pride?

D2 What is the solution?

B7 1 Corinthians 1:18-31,

C1 1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV  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.

D1 Why is the message of the cross foolishness?

D2 Can we save ourselves?

D3 Why did Jesus have to die?

C2 1 Corinthians 1:19-22 NKJV  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.

D1 What is the wisdom of the wise and understanding of the prudent?

E1 No matter how wise in philosophy or examination can the truths of God and His ways be known?

E2 God reveals them so that even a child can understand them.

E3 God’s wisdom is so awesome that it makes the wisest of the wise seem foolish.

D2 How does God make the wisdom of the world foolish?

E1 The word scribes is understood by most to be the learned teachers of Israel– the Scribes.

E2 Why don’t they know?

E3 What was wrong with Nicodemus? John 3:10 NKJV  Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

D3 Why does God state that He will destroy the wisdom of the wise? How does He do this?

D4 How does this apply to the Gospel?

C3 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 NKJV  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.

D1 What is preached? A person, Jesus Christ. What is the importance of this compared to signs and wisdom?

D2 What should we do– signs, wisdom, or preach Christ crucified?

D3 Do miracles and philosophy bring people to Christ?

D4 Why is the crucifixion troubling to most people?

D5 What is Christ to us who are saved?

D6 Is there unity in the Gospel?

D7 How can there not be unity?

C4 1 Corinthians 1:25-29 NKJV  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  (26)  For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.  (27)  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;  (28)  and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,  (29)  that no flesh should glory in His presence.

D1 How is God’s foolishness wiser than men and the weakness of God stronger than men?

D2 Are you glad the Scriptures state, “...not many wise...mighty...noble are called?” It could have not any wise, mighty, or noble are called.

D3 Why did God do things this way?

C5 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NKJV  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—  (31)  that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.

D1 What 4 attributes of Jesus are listed?

D2 What does “...glory in the Lord” mean? One thing it means is not to glory in ourselves. What else?

B8 What idea or principle should be our unity? The gospel of Jesus Christ.

C1 There is only one Gospel. Note: believed God, God saw, and God reckoned to righteousness. Moses wrote it, Paul wrote twice, and Peter wrote. Jesus preached it, the Apostles preached it, and Paul preached it, so did Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the prophets.

D1 Abraham:

E1 Genesis 15:6 NKJV And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

E2 Romans 4:3 NRSV  For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

E3 Galatians 3:6 NRSV  Just as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

E4 James 2:23 NRSV  Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.

D2 The prophets, Apostles, and Paul preached the same:

E1 Joel 2:32 NKJV  And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

E2 Acts 2:21 NKJV  And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

E3 Romans 10:13 NKJV  For Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

C2 All the prophets preached the same Gospel: Acts 10:43 NKJV  To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.

C3 The gospel

D1 No one is good. The standard is God’s Law (Exodus 20).

D2 The penalty for breaking God’s law is death– physical, spiritual, and eternal.

D3 God initiates salvation, for no one seeks God (Romans 3).

D4 The Holy Spirit brings conviction, opening every human’s eyes, mind, and heart (John 16:7-9, Acts 16:14, John 6:44, 1 Peter 2:9, etc.). The Old Testament teaches it as well: Psalms 40:6 NKJV  Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

D5 The idea of repentance is to turn, so we admit we are not good, we admit we cannot do good works to be saved, we admit we will be punished and go to hell; God is right; I am wrong.

D6 Belief: John 3:14-18 NKJV  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  (15)  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  (16)  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  (18)  "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

D7 Praying, calling out, asking for forgiveness: Romans 10:13 NKJV  For "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

B9 Next week:

C1 Pure in His eyes

C2 Theme: Purity in Christ

C3 Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11