What Is The Call Of God

The Call Of God

Book of Galatians 1:13-24


What is the call of God?

The call of God is an invitation given to each of us by God to accept salvation into His Kingdom through the Lord Jesus Christ.

This invitation is given outwardly by the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This invitation is given inwardly by the Holy Spirit, who will lead us to Jesus.

These two things will happen at the same time.

This first call must be answered before God can call us into some part of His ministry.

It is up to each of us to accept or reject the call of God.

The Apostle Paul preached to the Corinthians that "now is the acceptable time" to accept the call of God because now is the time of God's Grace.

2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Paul was preaching from the prophecy of the Messiah:

Isa 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

Before Paul became an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul, then called Saul, was one of the most religious Jews of his day.

Paul had dedicated his life to the Law as taught by the Pharisees.

And, Paul relentlessly persecuted the Christian Church.

It was Judaizers who had brought a false message to the Churches of Galatia but before Paul became a Christian, he was much more zealous for the Law than these that had come from Jerusalem with this false message.

Paul had been even more sincere in his zeal to stop the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" but Paul had been very wrong and he now knew this.

When Paul met the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road there was a change in his life.

Salvation brings a change in the believer!

If there is no change then it is hard to see that salvation has taken place.

Before, Paul had used all his energy to destroy the Church, but now after meeting Jesus, Paul used all his energy to build the Church.

So Paul begins, "I know you have heard all these thing from my past".

*****Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

The Bible does not try to hide anything and we can clearly see the change that Paul went through by comparing Paul's former life to his life as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

We can be sure that each of the Apostles went through some drastic changes.

We know some things about Peter, and John, and even a little about Matthew, James and Thomas but the Holy Spirit decided that we needed to know more about the Apostle Paul.

***Paul had been the greatest persecutor of the Church before his conversion besides Satan himself:

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

All those that think that they can persecute the Church without God knowing them personally are in for a real surprise, for they will one day come face to face with our Living God!

No one persecuted the early Church more than Paul.

We also know that God had allowed this persecution so the Church could grow.

The early church had not been obedient to the commands of the Lord!

The Lord had said "go" but the early church had just "stayed" in Jerusalem.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

God will always take something that is bad and make something good come out of it!

God also showed the Apostle Paul that it is impossible to stamp out the Church.

God will remove His Church individually or all of it at one time at the Rapture but until that time there will be a functioning Church upon this Earth and there is nothing this world can do to stop it though they continuously try!

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We should all have a testimony after salvation and this was part of Paul's testimony.

Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

***God had used these things to humble Paul for Paul had also been a supreme example of self-righteousness.

Paul had boasted how he had made a great profit not only in finances but also in prestige by being so zealous of his Jewish heritage.

We must love all the Jewish people and they are still God's chosen nation but Christianity is not an offshoot of Judaism.

Christianity comes by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

To be a Christian is to have Jesus as your example.

*****Gal 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Before Paul became an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul's intent was to use any means he could to advance Judaism. In fact Paul was so intent upon doing this that he did not hesitate to cut down all those who opposed his religion.

Judaism is a religion that still rejects Jesus Christ.

This puts us in mind of the acts of those of Radical Islam who today are using every means at their disposal to cut down and destroy all religions but Islam, especially Judaism and Christianity. They in fact will try to destroy anyone who disagrees with their beliefs or they make tributaries of them.

Like Judaism, Islam is also a religion that rejects the Lord Jesus Christ as do all other religions!

There may always be some things in our past that should remain in our past but here Paul had to make these Galatians see that he knew as much or more about Judaism as anyone that came from Jerusalem.

Remember Paul had studied under Gamaliel who was the authority on Judaism in all of Israel until his death.

Paul was explaining to these Galatians that it took more than any mere man to change his ways and to change his beliefs. It took the "Good News" of Jesus Christ.

Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

We can also see from Paul's testimony that he had even been more zealous of the traditions of Judaism than the written Word of God.

This is great problem in all religions, people listen to what men teach and ignore what is written down in the books they use in their own religion.

Even Christians depend on the pulpits more than they depend on the written and infallible Word of God!

Now Paul had come to know the truth.

Paul had spent much time in the scriptures and had realized the truth of the Word of God, all the way back to the Book of Genesis.

*****Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Paul understood Creation by the design of God.

Paul also understood that God had a purpose for his life all along.

Paul realized that just like Jeremiah, God is involved in our lives from the day we are conceived in the womb of our mothers.

Jer 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Paul had persecuted the Church but since the time of Stephen's death, God had been working on Paul and in a time of God's "Grace", God had called on the Paul and made him an Apostle!

It is obvious that God is working in our lives long before He calls us to the work of Jesus Christ.

God had told the Jews all along to quit listening to false preaching and take the time to study the scriptures.

Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

In fact God teaches us all to do the same.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Paul realized that he was undeserving of any favor of God and he had only been saved by the "Grace of God"!

We cannot be saved by the "Grace of God" until God reveals the work of His Son Jesus within us!

*****Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

God knows by His infinite wisdom that we cannot make Christ Jesus known to others until we know Him on a personal level ourselves!

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Paul was called to preach.

Our Pastor, Preacher Sam was called to preach.

BUT, we are all called to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was told to seek the "Gospel" not from men, but from God Himself!

This does not mean we are not to study the "Gospel" from other men who know the truth of Jesus Christ but it does mean that we are not to proclaim some man-made gospel, we are to proclaim the "Gospel of God"!

1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

The "Gospel of God" is the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ", the "Gospel of Grace"!

Jesus Christ freely gave Himself for us so that we could be saved!

We must realize that God will forgive our past life but God may use some the things we learned in that life to bring glory to His Son.

We must realize that there is nothing in our past life that cannot be forgiven!

We must also realize that when we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ we must walk away from our old life, there must be a change!

We must realize in order to be a benefit in the work of our Lord Jesus, we must consult with God!

And we cannot consult with God with sin in our lives!

Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

We must get alone with God in prayer and in the Scriptures!

If we cannot begin our new life with God on a personal level, then we will never walk with Him in peace in this life!

*****Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

All those that had made accusations toward Paul had come from Jerusalem so Paul insisted that the "Gospel" he preached was not out of Jerusalem.

Paul was proving to these Galatians that his message came directly from God Himself!

As we follow the next few verses we will see how God would direct the life of His new Apostle in order to show how salvation can change even the vilest of men.

Paul's conversion was the most dramatic experience he had ever had.

Paul had been full of religion.

Paul had observed all the rituals and traditions of his religion.

Paul had believed that it was these things that made him righteous in the eyes of God.

BUT, all these things had only deceived Paul and everything Paul believed, he found out to be false.

Paul's religion had not brought peace and satisfaction but only hatred toward all those that did not believe the same as he believed.

Paul had studied the Scriptures from an early age but he had allowed false teaching to pervert the truth of those Scriptures.

Paul did not need to return to Jerusalem to those that had taught him all his life.

Paul did not need to return to Jerusalem to confer with the government on what to do.

Paul did not need to contact the Apostles to get their advice, they would not have trusted him anyway.

Paul needed some time alone with God!

Paul knew about God but Paul did not really know God!

If we get alone with God in sincere prayer and study the Word of God as He says, we can come to know the truth!

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

We find that Paul spent three years in a place that only Gentiles dwelled.

Paul spent three years in the Arabian desert at the feet of Jesus, just as the other Apostles had done.

After this time Paul returned to Damascus.

Before Paul was converted he had gone to Damascus to stamp out Christianity, so Paul now went to Damascus to right that wrong.

Paul was seeking forgiveness for what he had done!

One of the hardest things we must do after salvation is to try to make things right to those we have hurt.

Upon receiving the forgiveness of God, we are to forgive all others.

Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

We know that Paul was not well received but he had at least tried.

Act 9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Paul had to escape Damascus to save his own life.

AND, next Paul knew he had to return to Jerusalem to face his past.

*****Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Paul had been well know in Jerusalem. So, there was no better place for others to see the great change in the life of the Apostle Paul.

Paul had been a Pharisee.

Paul had been an official of the Sanhedrin Court, somewhat like our own Supreme Court.

Paul knew all his old associates would now be his enemies but after all, Paul had a new understanding of the Word of God.

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Paul spent three years with Christ Jesus, despite all the education he already had in the Scriptures just as the other Apostles had done.

There can be no doubt that Paul witnessed for Jesus during this time but Paul also knew he had a ministry that could not begin until some other things came first.

It is foolish for any new convert to believe they can immediately preach the Word of God without spending some time alone with God in the Scriptures.

It seems that three years may be an example of an appropriate time.

Paul also knew that if he were to trusted by the Church, he would need to convince Peter of his conversion.

As far as Paul was concerned, Peter was the head of the Apostles.

If the Apostle Peter accepted Paul then Paul knew he would be accepted by a majority of the Church.

Remember Paul was writing in defence of his apostleship to these Galatians.

Paul was not saying he went to Peter to see if he was preaching the truth.

That had already been settled by the Lord!

Paul said that he spent 15 days with Peter so that was not enough time for Paul to get some new "Gospel" message.

Act 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
Act 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Act 9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

It was only after Peter had been convinced that Paul felt he could move in and out of Jerusalem but many in the Church were still wary of Paul and remained afraid of him.

So Paul also met with the Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem.

*****Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

There are many including the Catholic Church that deny that the Lord Jesus had any brothers by Joseph and His mother Mary but what do they do with this verse?

James was the presiding elder, or the Pastor of the church at Jerusalem.

Gal 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

It is this same James who also wrote the "Epistle of James".

Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

It is this same James that the Apostle Paul says was also the half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The half-brothers of the Lord did not believe the Lord while He was alive but when they saw Jesus walk out of that grave, they became believers.

Joh 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

There is also the "Epistle of Jude". Jude was also a half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

And then Paul adds, "these things are the truth as I stand before God".

*****Gal 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

What Paul is saying to these Galatians was, "that if you hear anything that differs from what I am telling you then that thing would be a lie"!

What have we learned so far?

We need to become witnesses to all our old friends and our own family.

We need to allow unbelievers that knew us before we were saved see that knowing the Lord Jesus Christ will make a noticeable change in our life.

We need to seek help from the Church and the Church leaders before we begin a ministry for the Lord.

And most important we need to get alone with God and spend some time with Him!

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

And it is only after these things that Paul went home to witness to his family and his friends from his early life as a child.

After all, the family can be the toughest to win over to the Lord, even Christ Jesus knew this was true.

Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Mat 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

*****Gal 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

Tarsus is where Paul was born and where his family resided. This would be the area where Paul's childhood friends were located.

Paul had a desire to share the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" with all those he had ever known.

Tarsus was the capitol of Cilicia but Cilicia was now part of the area called Galatia.

Tarsus was also near the border of Syria and the chief city of Syria at that time was Antioch of Syria.

Later when Barnabas came after Paul, he did not have to go very far.

The roads from Lystra and Iconium ended at Tarsus.

Paul was well acquainted with this region.

Paul had a new outlook on life and he wanted all the world to know!

Paul had a new understanding of those Scriptures he had studied all his life!

Paul finally understood the words of Jesus Christ.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Paul had changed so much that he was unrecognizable to the churches that had been established in all Judea.

*****Gal 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

We must remember the intent of this testimony of Paul was to show these Galatians that he was saved by the "Grace of God" and not by any teaching that had come from the Apostles or from the home church in Jerusalem.

We also know that it was the Church of Antioch of Syria that had approved of Paul's missionary work and not the Church of Jerusalem.

Paul's point to these Galatians was that his ministry was recognized by people who had never seen him.

These Galatians had seen Paul, they had heard his message and believed and been saved by God's Grace, without works but now had been turned around in doubt of the truth by false teachers of a false doctrine.

What was Paul's reputation in Judea?

*****Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me.

Here we can see the results of a God centered life after salvation.

There should be a noticeable change after accepting the "Grace of God"!

Those that think they have to do some work in order to pay the debt of those wages of sin, will all their lives seek to pay a debt that they never had the ability to pay to begin with!

The Lord Jesus Christ paid a debt that we could never pay!

1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

One of our best witnessing tools is our testimony of a God-centered life which can encourage others to see the truth of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

People want to see living examples of "Faith"!

It is those who create imaginary works in their own minds trying to please a God, who saves only by His Grace, that give Christianity a bad name!

If our testimony is not for God, then it is against God!

If your life is not an example of the life of Jesus, then we need to be working on it!

Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

And Jesus added:

Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

What is the greatest ordinance of the Christian?

To be a servant, surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Gospel Message is Unique

The Uniqueness Of The Gospel

Book of Galatians 1:6-12


The word unique means a thing unparalleled, or one of a kind. A thing that has no equal, and is unmatched in it's kind and in it's excellence.

Uniqueness is the quality of being unique!

What is pluralism? Pluralism is a worldview that says one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus the acknowledgement that at least some truths and true values exist in other religions.

What is humanism? Humanism is a worldview that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world and rejects the importance of a belief in God.

Humanism is the world of the Atheist. The Atheist say that there is no God or that there is no such thing as a Supreme being.

Humanism is the world of the Agnostic. The Agnostic says we live in a world that cannot know that a God exist. Their belief is based on an assumption that for something to exist it must be scientifically verifiable. Since God cannot be proven by known science, then God cannot be discussed as an option for life.

Evolution is based on Humanism which says that there is no God and then they seek to explain away Creation by the design of our Supernatural God by using false science. Science by definition is based on facts and Evolutionists have no facts to prove their false science!

The Bible describes all these people as lost!

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, "and without God in the world":

These are Gentiles that do not know God!

1Th 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, "even as the Gentiles which know not God":

As Christians we know that we may all have fit into these categories at one time.

Paul informed these Galatians that even if you do not believe in God you are still serving a false god!

Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, "ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods".

Polytheism says that there are many gods.

Pantheism says that everything can be a God and God can be everything. God is all and all is God!

Deism is a belief that there may be a God but He cannot be personal and He will not relate to mankind and mankind cannot relate to Him. Deist may acknowledge a god but they deny a sovereign God of any religion!

God says:

Pro 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

So, how does God respond to all these things? King David was inspired by the Holy Spirit to give us the answer.

Psa 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Psa 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psa 19:5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
Psa 19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The greatest lie that is told today is, that there is truth in all religions and it does not matter which religion you choose to believe, as long as you believe something good.

It is taught that there are many roads to Heaven and the only choice you need to make is to get on one of those many roads.

This is pleasant sounding and this false thing is used by many governments and many false religions in order to try to appease it's people but this is all a lie!

This is totally false and no false thing can be of the truth!

In the words of Jesus, He said now is the time for the truth!

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

And Jesus also said it is only the truth that can make you free!

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall "make" you free.

And Jesus said that it is the Word of God that is true!

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

If the Word of God is true then all others are false according to the Word of God!

And the Apostle Paul added:

2Co 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

What is the truth?

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

What is the truth?

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

There is absolutely nothing in these two verses that cannot be easily understood!

When we are bombarded everyday by the teachings of this world, we can sometimes drift from the truth of the Word of God but there is only one "Gospel".

There is only one source of "Good News" for this world we live in!

And there is only one Judgment!

When we stand before God and we will all stand before God, "and every knee will bow before our Holy God", we will have to give an account of our relationship to the truth of God!

It is our eternal living soul that hangs in the balance!

Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mar 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

So lets begin:

*****Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

In many of Paul's letters it would be at the time of his introduction that he would brag about the faith of the believers, but not this day.

Not only was the apostleship of Paul at stake, the life of the early church was at stake and the precious souls that the Lord Jesus Christ had died for, were all at stake!

It is God's "Gospel", that must be obeyed, preached, taught, and it alone!

Even before God's first breath of creation God knew the outcome, so God's plan all along was to save us by Jesus Christ!

Paul was astonished at how easily these "Babes in Christ" had been so quickly led astray by false doctrine.

We sometimes forget that Satan does not like to loose to the Lord and he will immediately attack those that have recently trusted in the Lord.

Satan cannot rob them of their salvation but he can make them useless servants of the Lord!

That word "another" means "another of a different kind".

That means any "Gospel" that is not centered on the "Gospel of Grace" and that "Grace" can come only by Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ died so that we could be delivered from sin and death and then by this same means have an eternal home with God in the New Heaven and on the New Earth!

What are the facts? When any person surrenders to the truth of Jesus Christ and truly believes that Christ took their sins upon Himself and then died for them, God counts them as sinless as His Son was sinless.

It does not get much simpler than that!

It is not this world that we have to please, it is only our Father in Heaven that we have to please and this is His plan of salvation!

God does not need my help to save me and God does not need my help to keep me saved, God just needs me to believe and trust in the work of His dear Son. That's why it is called "Faith"!

How do we become acceptable to God? There is only one way!

We must look to the Lamb of God!

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world".

What was Paul's message?

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

It is the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" that must be protected from all those that would pervert the Word of God!

Men of a false gospel had come into the newly formed churches of Galatia and had preached their false doctrine and this brought confusion to people who did not have a Bible but only the "Gospel" as preached by the Apostle Paul and those who traveled with him.

As we follow the "Gospel of Grace" we must be very aware that there will always be those who just cannot accept the simplicity of salvation by Jesus Christ.

It is this verse 6 that gives us the purpose that Paul wrote this Holy Ghost inspired Book to the Galatians.

We already know that the other Apostles were preaching the same "Gospel" as Paul because there is no other "Gospel" by which we can be saved!

*****Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

In verse 6 the Greek word "heteros" was translated into our English word "another" which meant another of a different kind.

Now in verse 7 we see the Greek word "allos" is translated into our English word "another" but it has a slightly different meaning of "another of the same kind".

In other words the so-called gospel of these false teachers and preachers did not just have minor variations that can be seen throughout Christianity but the message that they had was altogether opposite of the "Gospel of Grace" which is a "gospel of works".

The Apostle Paul was giving a strict warning to these Galatian Christians and we must also give a strict warning today!

God had these words in the Book of Revelation.

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

We have been warned not to alter or pervert the Word of God in any way!

Any person that turns away from the "Gospel of Grace" is turning away from God Himself!

You see it is not some preacher or teacher that leads us into salvation, it is God Himself who sends us His Holy Spirit to bring us under conviction and then leads us to Jesus Christ.

When we turn away from God's message we are rejecting the "Love of God"!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

We must remain grounded in the "Love of God"!

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

There is no other place to turn when the "Gospel of Grace" is rejected!

We should be more like Peter. Peter was just a fisherman but even Peter realized that there is no other place to turn but to Christ Jesus!

Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who spoke the Words of eternal life!

It is only the message of Jesus Christ that can get us into God's New Heaven!

There may be many who teach and preach in this world "but there is only one message of truth"!

Jesus said:

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

And the Apostle Paul cautioned all believers as we see in the Book of Hebrews:

Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

And we must caution each other, and teach each other and all our children and all our friends to avoid any message other than the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Grace", for anything else is just a lie of Satan!

*****Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

***What are the facts? We have a God who because He is God, absolutely cannot contradict Himself!

That word "accursed" means to excommunicated, doomed, damned, cast into Hell!

We can see that God is very serious about the truth of the "Gospel"!

Without the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Grace" no person can be saved from the wages of death! No person could be reconciled to God! No person could have eternal and everlasting "life"!

The Apostle Paul may have been the most committed servant of God that has ever lived, but if Paul had deviated even one time from the message of the "Gospel of Grace", he would have been accursed and he knew this!

Paul said no matter how much you care for me, if I return to you preaching some other gospel than the "Gospel of Grace", I will be condemned to Hell!

The "Gospel" is much greater than the Apostle Paul!

***The "Gospel" is much greater than any Angel!

Though an Angel come from Heaven but preached not the "Gospel of Grace" even that Angel would be doomed to an eternal and everlasting Hell.

We already know that God will actually send an Angel from Heaven, after the "Rapture" of the Church and during the seven year Tribulation Period but that Angel will preach the same "Gospel" as the Apostle Paul.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

There is only one "Everlasting Gospel"!

We can see that the"Gospel of Grace" also includes the truth of Creation by the Design of God as well as the "Death, the Burial, and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ"!

Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

It is also during the Tribulation Period that the false prophet will come forth with his message of a false gospel as he does today.

2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

We just cannot allow ourselves to get caught up in the false message that is taught today in our world!

We must the Word of God literal!

There is still only one way for salvation!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

And this warning is worth repeating, over and over again!

*****Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

If the "Gospel" is greater than God's hand selected Apostles, and greater than God's most powerful Angels, then the Gospel is far greater than any man and anything that man says!

Any preacher or teacher that preaches or teaches a "Gospel" other than the "Gospel of Grace" will be doubly cursed!

I can think of some mighty big names that I will not mention who have changed their message to be inclusive of many routes to Heaven and have accepted humanism and have accepted evolution or some part of evolution and these scriptures tell us of their terrible ending.

Jesus told His disciples:

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

We should not judge the growth of our Church by it's size or by it's numbers. We should judge the growth of our Church by the fruit of the believers, that is produced from the truth of the "Gospel of Grace" the "Gospel of God"!

The "Gospel of God" is a life or death message and therefore the most important message that can be taught in this world we live in!

*****Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Not only was Paul accused of being a false Apostle.

Not only was Paul accused of preaching and teaching a false gospel.

Paul was also accused of being a people pleaser.

Paul was accused of using his ministry only for his own livelihood.

Paul was accused of living a life of deception.

Paul was accused of using the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ" to satisfy his own personal greed!

How did Paul respond to these accusations?

That word "now" tells us that Paul said there was a time he was guilty of all these things.

Paul was saying, there was a time when he was so zealous of God that he tried to please men instead of God.

This was when Paul served the High Priest and the Sanhedrin Court.

Paul was saying, there was a time when was seeking his own glory and profited greatly in the Jewish religion.

Paul was saying, yes at one time he was a man-pleaser but that time "was not now"!

And Paul fired back: Am I "now" seeking to please men? No!

Am I "now" seeking to please God? Yes!

Paul said: "for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ"

What is the one thing that God has given to every human being that sometimes gets us in the most trouble?

THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE!

Paul had made his choice to serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

We cannot serve the Lord Jesus Christ and at the same time serve any man!

The act of choice means we have to decide between one or the other!

Jesus Christ had these words for each of us.

Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

We must become a slave to the Lord Jesus Christ!

God's "Grace" is free and unconditional but we must still make a "Choice" and that "choice" must be to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and not mankind.

There were still those that said Paul could not be a true Apostle of the Lord so Paul added these words.

*****Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

It is certainly true that Paul had not followed the Lord Jesus when He was upon this Earth.

The same can be said for each of us also!

Paul's critics said that Paul's "gospel" was then man-made.

Still in our day the lamest excuse that is most offered is when the lost say the Bible was written by men and therefore just man’s words.

The Apostle Paul uses that word "certify".

Paul said "I want you to clearly understand the Gospel I preach is not of me or any other man"

That word "Gospel" means "good news", not "good works", not "good advice".

The "Gospel" is the "good news" of the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the forgiveness and the salvation that only He can provide!

The "Gospel" is not some improved information about some Divine Laws which must be kept in order to be reconciled with God!

The Word of God is not man-made!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

***The "Gospel" was not handed down to Paul, like some tradition.

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

**The "Gospel" was not learned by Paul, from some educational institute.

**The "Gospel" was not taught to Paul by some other man.

Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 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;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

The "Gospel" that Paul preached came by direct revelation from Jesus Christ!

The "Gospel" that Paul preached is not some basis for a new religion!

The "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ as preached and taught by the Apostle Paul is the only basis for salvation in this dark dreary world we live in!

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Tit 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

If Jesus Christ is not revealed in our lives than we are not saved and are still bound for a burning Hell!

If you do not know for sure, then it is time to make a choice!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Work of Jesus Christ

The Work of Jesus Christ

Galatians 1:1-5


Today we begin a short study into the Book of Galatians.

We already know that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

In the accepted canon of the Bible, we know that there are 13 Epistles that bear the name of the Apostle Paul.

The birth place of Paul was the city of Tarsus which still exist in modern Turkey on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Paul says he was of the tribe of Benjamin and therefore a Jew but being free born in Tarsus a Roman province and circumstances that are not explained Paul was also a Roman citizen.

Paul was well trained in His Jewish heritage and at a young age he was sent to study at the feet of Gamaliel who was a high ranking Pharisee, a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin court and a celebrated Doctor of the Jewish Law, the Laws of Moses.

He was The Authority in his day of the Jewish Talmud which was a collection of the Jewish traditions and explanations of the accepted Scriptures of the Old Testament.

The Talmud was in two parts.

1) The Mishna was the written law the Laws of Moses.

2) The Gemara was the oral interpretations and comments of the Jewish, Doctors of those Laws.

The Apostle Paul was well educated in Jewish Law and all Jewish traditions and was very zealous in his beliefs.

Act 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

When Paul totally surrendered himself to the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul then began to learn the truth of those same Scriptures he had known since he was a child.

Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 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;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

In this epistle written to the Galatians we will see the Apostle Paul defend the truth of Christianity as we must all do.

From the beginning of the early Church there have only been a few that questioned the authorship of the Book of Galatians.

The date this wonderful book was written may not ever be exact but it was definitely written between 48-60 A.D.

Paul had a great purpose for writing this wonderful book of the Bible.

The Apostleship of Paul came under question by certain men and that accusation had to be answered and answered firmly or the "Gospel of Grace" would forever be called into question.

The Apostle Paul was not only under attack but the Gospel of Jesus Christ was also under attack as it still is today.

There were certain professing to be Christian Jews (Judaizers) who were teaching a double error.

1) They taught that salvation came partly by faith and partly by works.

2) They also taught that upon this salvation a person could only grow in Christ partly by faith and partly by their own good works.

In other words, each person had to believe on Christ but that person still had to undertake the rituals of Judaism beginning with circumcision.

How does that transpire in our days?

In many places of worship, not only must one accept the Lord Jesus as Savior but they are not saved until they are baptized, or become a member of the church, or many other things such as speak in tongues.

They then had to observe all the rituals and traditions of that false religion.

There are many places today that observe rituals and traditions that have absolutely nothing to do with salvation and are even deceiving and sinful.

***There are only two ordinances that are to be observed by the child of God and neither have anything to do with salvation.

1) There is the Lord's Supper:

1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

a) This is done to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ and by His command.

b) This is done to connect each of us in a personal connection with the Lord.

c) This done to connect each believer to each other.

2) Then there is Baptism:

Baptism is an ordinance commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ just as the Lord's Supper.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

This Baptism must reflect the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words baptism must be by a full immersion of that person who has already surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

3) If there was a third ordinance it would be that of being a servant as demonstrated when our Lord Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.

We are never to reach a point in in our saved life that we are not willing to take on the lowest act of a servant!

***The teaching of the Apostle Paul differed from those who were called Judaizers.

The truth of the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ" is this.

Each individual can only be saved by Jesus Christ and He alone!

We can only be saved by the "Grace of God"!

There is not one person who will ever enter into Heaven who has won, or earned, or merited salvation by something they have done themselves!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Of course, the Apostle Paul was charged with deceit by these Judaizers and these Galatians were told that Paul was not even an actual Apostle.

We know that there can be no more actual apostles because an apostle had to meet certain qualifications that cannot be met today.

The term Apostle means "one sent forth".

To be an Apostle meant each man was hand selected by Jesus Christ and was sent forth to preach the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!

Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

The Apostle Peter led this group of the originals, only eleven after the treasonous act and death of Judas Iscariot, to select a twelfth Apostle.

We know that Mathias was chosen and no doubt a good man who also spent a great deal of time with Jesus and was a witness of the resurrection of Our Lord.

Act 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Matthias was not chosen by the Lord to be an Apostle even though he was a good disciple.

The Lord Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would not be sent to preach the Gospel!

Joh 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

Judas has fulfilled his purpose and was even offered a chance to repent but just would not do so.

Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

The Lord Jesus chose and sent the Apostle Paul.

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

**Paul had written many of his Epistles to specific cities and specific Churches but Paul writes this Epistle to all the Christians of Galatia.

Galatia was an area, not a nation and not a city.

Galatia was originally settled by the Gauls.

The Gauls were not Arabians but Gentile descendants of Japheth, a son of Noah.

The area settled by the Gauls was expanded in the time of the Roman domination and much of Galatia became a Roman providence.

These Galatians were an emotional, impulsive, and a changeable people and are much the same even today.

They had a love for the strange, the curious, and the unknown.

They were easily attached to religions that were mainly a worship of nature and these type still exist today.

They were easily caught up in Greek and Roman mythology.

Many of them found it possible to worship as Paul and the Word of God taught them one day and then stone the Apostle Paul the next day in confusion.

From the Book of Acts, the accounts of the Apostles, we can learn that Paul preached and established many of these churches on his first and his third missionary journey's.

Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Galatia on his second mission trip.

Act 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Act 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Just as every new Christian is, these churches were spiritually immature and easily swayed by false doctrine.

The reason for the Book of Galatians was to deal with the basic doctrine of Christianity.

The Doctrine of Christianity is "Salvation By Grace" and Grace alone!

Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The Book of Galatians takes us into the heart of the "Gospel"!

Salvation means that each of us must receive the "Gospel" by faith!

There is no amount of work nor obedience to any law that can bring salvation!

Legalism in any form can neither save a sinner nor perfect the Saint of God!

What we should realize is, that Paul never taught that the Jews were to abandon the Laws of Moses nor their rituals or their traditions.

BUT, they were taught that these things could not bring salvation!

The Gentiles were taught to never get caught up in the Jewish laws and traditions but being free from these things does not give us the freedom to just toss out the commandments of God!

The entire Old Testament is our School Master for what God has already done!

Cultures and practices are different throughout this world we live in but salvation remains the same to all!

The one main point of the letter to these Galatians was and it is the same today, is that none of us can earn, or win, or do anything for salvation beyond trusting on the Lord Jesus Christ!

That includes Jews, Gentiles, and any other name that people use.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Human effort is not spiritual and it is not eternal nor can it ever be!

We will also see that God calls all His ministers but they are not all alike.

The Apostle Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, but the Apostle Peter was the Apostle to the Jews but they were all to have the same message of "Grace".

Another message we should not miss in our studies is that all Christians around the world are to treat each other as brothers and sisters in the same family of Jehovah God.

We should all be able to sit down with each other and fellowship in peace!

Above all we are to be servants to each other and never reach a point where we place ourselves above others.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

The Book of Galatians has been a powerful message throughout the Church Age.

It is the Book of Galatians that brought reformation by Martin Luther and peace to many others.

The truth of the "Gospel" is that we are justified by faith and not by works.

We are saved by "Grace" and we are also kept saved by "Grace"!

So let's begin:

*****Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

In the days of the New Testament, salutations were at the beginning of the letter instead of at the end as it is in our day.

All the letters Paul wrote to the New Testament Churches had certain words in common but they all also were just a little bit different.

The beginning of this letter to the Galatians began significantly different from all the others.

The Apostleship of Paul had come under question and there are even those that still question it today.

There may have been many so-called apostles throughout church history but there have only been 12 Apostles hand picked and sent out with a specific message by the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time of Judas Iscariot there were 12 men who were said to be disciples. The command to be sent out came from the Lord after the death of Judas.

In the day of these 12 Apostles the term apostle had another meaning than "one who was sent".

The Jews had an officer called "Shaliach". A "Shaliach" could speak and act with the same authority as the One who sent him!

It was those 12 Apostles that were hand selected by the Lord Jesus Christ who carried with them the authority of the "Shaliach".

It is these 12 who went forth with the authority given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Apostle Paul may not have been in that original group but Paul did meet the qualifications of being an Apostle because he was hand selected by the Lord Jesus on the Damascus Road.

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Many of these Galatians had began to question the ministry of the Apostle Paul which led to them questioning the message of the Apostle Paul.

Paul says:

1) I am a true Apostle.

2) I am a true minister of God and not of men.

3) I am a true messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We should be very clear, these Galatians had the right reasons. All those that preach and teach a "Gospel" other than that of the Lord Jesus Christ need to be run out of the Church and their ministry destroyed.

But at this time it was Paul who taught the truth of the Scriptures!

It had been Paul himself who tried to destroy the early church but that was not possible then nor is it now!

Paul certainly had not been sent by the home church at Jerusalem when he began his ministry.

Paul's ministry did not include the rituals and traditions of the home church at Jerusalem.

Paul preached a different message than the home church in Jerusalem.

But the Apostle Paul stood his ground because he preached the entire truth of God!

In all these things Paul did not even try to argue with those that criticized him.

And Paul said, I serve the Living God, the One whom God had raise from the dead!

There is no religion that can teach with these same words.

We must understand the message of salvation we receive is from the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is our resurrected Savior who only can bring salvation to "all" that call on His name.

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

The Lord Jesus paid the price of our sin, "the wages of death" with His own blood.

But it is our resurrected Savior who justifies all His believers!

It is the brethren, the believers who should understand this truth!

*****Gal 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

There had been many who traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys. To begin with there was Barnabas and John Mark but it was the Holy Spirit that had directed the work of Paul.

Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

We also know of Timothy and Titus among many others including Luke.

Which of these Paul was referring to at this time we may not know but that was not important. The importance came from the fact that everyone who was traveling with the Apostle Paul agreed with everything that Paul was writing in this Epistle to the Galatians.

Paul's group was in one accord and these Galatians were in a state of confusion because they had been led astray by false teaching.

Paul called them brethren because they were much more than friends. They were brothers who served the same Lord and believed the same doctrine, the Doctrine of Grace.

We should then notice that this Epistle was not just written to one church but all the churches of Galatia.

Among those would have been Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, Iconium, Derbe and probably others.

The Apostle Paul had come under attack from all the churches that he had established.

We can see that Satan hates it when the "Gospel of Grace" is preached and then believed.

Here at Gethsemane we have a Pastor who preaches the entire truth of the Word of God, and we cannot call ourselves brethren if we do not stand with him.

It is those who would twist the truth of the Word of God who should be avoided at all cost!

True brothers in Christ will always come to the aid of each other!

Paul knew the doctrine in question so Paul begins with the word "Grace".

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

*****Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

**What is Grace? Grace is the undeserved favor of God! Undeserved means it cost you nothing!

If you had to work for the favor of God then you would be trying to pay a debt that you never had the ability to pay!

Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

We simply do not deserve God's favor!

We absolutely cannot win God's approval!

God is too high and man is too low to deserve anything from our Holy God!

The only thing any human being has ever earned is the judgment, condemnation, and punishment of God!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

**What is peace with God? Peace is to be intertwined and joined in a personal relationship with God and with all others that trust in the same "Grace".

Peace is being secured in the loving hands of God!

This peace can only come by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus said to know Me is to know peace!

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Paul wrote to the Philippians with these words.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

A great lesson to learn here is, that though we can never loose our salvation, we can fall out of the "Grace" of God as a church group and as an individual and when that happens we will not be at peace in this world we live in nor with the God we serve.

Proof:

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

We must guard against falling from "Grace"!

We must guard against trusting in our own works to be saved and our own works to keep us saved because we can do neither one!

So what has Jesus actually done for us?

*****Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

This verse gives us a brief summary of the "Gospel", the "Good News" of our Savior.

Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins because He knew we were unable to do so!

Jesus Christ died as our substitute.

Jesus Christ took my place and your place in order to pay our wages of death!

Jesus Christ gave His life, no one took His life, nor could they have taken His life!

Jesus Christ offered Himself to a Holy God as a sacrifice for our sin because only He was the sinless Son of God and able to do so!

And for what purpose did the Lord Jesus do this for us?

That He might deliver us from this present evil world!

We must realize the Son of God did this in unison with His Father!

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

But it was the Son, not the Father, who has made us citizens of Heaven and no longer a part of this world!

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

This was the only point of the death of our Savior on Calvary's cross!

To be delivered means to be "rescued" now while we are still living in this flesh!

To be delivered means to be "plucked out" which will take place at the "Rapture of the Church".

To be delivered means to have abundant life now and eternal life now and forever!

Again Jesus said:

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Why did Jesus do these things? Because it was the will of God, His Father!

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

This was God's method of adoption then and is the same way now!

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And once saved and adopted into the family of God we all need to praise and glorify God!

*****Gal 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

It is now and it has been true from the beginning, it is Jesus Christ who is the glory of the Church!

It is now and it has been true from the beginning, that God the Father who by His own purpose and His own will offered up His only begotten Son, "By His Grace" so that we could be delivered from this present evil world.

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All those that discount the "Grace of God" are foolish people, who ignore the truth of God and cling to a world that will one day no longer exist!

We need to praise God continuously for what He has done and we need to make ourselves familiar with the work of Jesus Christ our Lord!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Help Comes From On High

Praise God For His Help

Psalm 146


A wise man once wrote "it is a blessing to know that I am on the Lord's side but it is an even greater blessing to know that the Lord is on my side".

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not "with him" also freely give us all things?

The more we know about the ways of our God, the less we have to worry about our future!

In the time of the Apostle Paul there were many mysteries of the "Gospel" but there are no mysteries of salvation today.

God has made salvation a simple thing!

We absolutely cannot allow false teaching and even more false religions to confuse the simplicity of the plan of God.

Satan has tried to do this throughout history but when God sent His Son, salvation became a simple thing.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Help came from on High!

God did not save us and then just go off and leave us.

Until we reach our heavenly home God will help us.

We need to praise God for all His help!

*****Psa 146:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Psa 146:2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

The Bible is the best commentary of itself and the Bible says that "Praise" is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to the Lord.

"Heb 13:15 "By him" therefore "let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God" continually, "that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Our praise to God must be "by Him", the Lord Jesus Christ our Mediator.

Our praise to God is the only thing we can offer here on Earth that will continue when we get to Heaven, so while we are still living we need to be continually praising the Lord!

Continually means without pausing.

Continually means without ceasing.

It is God who creates the fruit of our lips:

Isa 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

God creates peace, reconciliation and pardon by His "Grace".

It is from these things that "Fruit" will burst forth from our lips.

It is also these same things that will be our greatest help from others in this world until we get home.

Pro 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

Praising the Lord will take our mind off our problems and our own shortcomings and we can just give them to God!

Our praise will lead us to others who also offer praise to the Lord.

Praise will cause us to appreciate all the things that God has done for us already.

Praise takes our focus off this world so we can focus on heavenly things.

Praise will prepare our hearts to receive the love of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, through the salvation plan given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

How can we not praise the Lord the rest of our days here on Earth?

How can we not praise the Lord for His help because we cannot trust this world we live in to be much help to us?

*****Psa 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

It is probable that this Psalm was also written by King David and what does this king say?

David was king and the head of what in history has proved to have been be a good government but David says we cannot place our trust in the rulers of government nor the people that live in this world.

Even in America, so many have been raised up to depend on the government and our leaders who have caused this to happen, take political advantage of them and keep them dependent and even their children, who grow up not encouraged to do better for themselves.

Not only that, but our government insist on allowing and even encouraging strangers to come into America, not those seeking to be a benefit, but those who will seek to be dependent on the government all their days and the days of their children.

This is a government seeking to be in control of it's people and not a government that serves it's people.

We absolutely cannot trust these leaders, these princes!

Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psa 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

Mankind will never evolve to a point where it can provide salvation to all the people.

This is the theory of evolution at work.

We are not evolving we are in fact d-volving!

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The gap between those that do right and those that do wrong is ever widening!

All those that have made a life of deceiving others and have reaped the benefits of that life to a point that they cannot or they refuse to recover themselves from that life and encourage others into the same errors.

These are those that will reach God's deadline while they yet live!

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

There is no real help that can come from these princes in this life and no help at all in our future life!

Those that trust in man will suffer the curse of God.

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

It is those that trust in the Lord who will receive the blessings of God!

Jer 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Even if you could find the best man on this Earth, he would still be just a man!

*****Psa 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

There are some very important things that we must realize before we die.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

There has never been a time of evolution of mankind!

God made man from the elements of this Earth and then God breathed into man the spirit of life.

These things take place at conception and each individual becomes a living soul!

Each and everyone that comes into this world will exit this world the very day God has written down on His calender!

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

There are things we can do to extend our days but God still knows the exact day of our death and He has been preparing us for that day all the days that we live.

When that day comes certain things happen:

Ecc 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

That body will return to the elements it was made from and that spirit of life will return to the God who gave it!

This is the history of mankind but not of animal kingdom:

Ecc 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Evolution has never been a part of mankind nor that of animal life!

Job 27:3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

All these things have taken place just so the soul of each human has the opportunity to decide it's fate.

Because on the day of death all our thoughts, all those things we wanted to accomplish in this life will end!

It is that eternal living soul that will live on, either in Heaven with God the owner of that soul or in the Hell and the Burning Lake of Fire that was prepared for Satan and those that place there trust in him!

We can know as we were known:

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Or we can suffer in Hell wishing we had done differently:

Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Who are those that rejoice? Those that have a personal relationship with their Creator!

*****Psa 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Psa 146:6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

The only way of true happiness is to rely on the same God that Jacob did!

Other humans cannot bring us to this point of happiness even that one we love the most.

There is not one powerful man on this Earth that can provide what we need for true happiness.

Our happiness can only come from the God that helps us.

Our happiness can only come from our Creator!

The God of Jacob is God's covenant name in Christ Jesus.

Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Our source of true happiness can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

It is the Lord Jesus who is happy to help us in our present life but also our only hope for the future of the eternal living soul!

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

God will always be true to His nature.

God will always be true to His promises.

God will always be true to His Word.

God will always be true to His personal relationship with each of us.

Because God will always be true to His Son!

And on a sad note to those that reject God's Son, God will also, always be true in His "Judgment"!

*****Psa 146:7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

Since the time of Adam, the Bible states that "Mankind", was created to be responsible for his own actions.

God judged Adam for his sin but before this took place, God had already judged Lucifer and the fallen angels.

2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

God judged the people of this Earth in the time of Noah.

God judged the people at the Tower of Babel.

God judged the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

God judged the Southern Kingdom of Israel.

God judged the early Church, remember Ananias and Sapphira.

And God will judge the people of this present age!

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Why has God always done this?

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

All people no matter who they are will come under the judgment of God.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, "but after this the judgment":

All those that surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ will be immediately judged and justified but the Bible tells us of two more judgments.

1) There is the "Judgment Seat of Christ".

The Bible says:

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

The is the judgment of the believer.

This not a judgment for salvation.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

This is a judgment for what each believer has accomplished since being in the family of God.

1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

2) There is the "White Throne Judgment".

This is the judgment of the unbeliever.

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

We have a righteous Judge who will see that the oppressed will be vindicated.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

The Lord does much more than just bring justice to this world.

All food comes from God!

All those that are oppressed and all those that are starving can also find help from our merciful God!

God would not say this if it were not true, they need to call on His name.

There is no one that has reached so low in this life that they are out of the reach of the loving arms of Jehovah God!

There are also many who live today who are bound not only by chains, but also by disease, also by unsound and unhealthy bodies, who are weak and feeble and the Lord can also break the chains of these miseries.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

But there are even more things that Jehovah God will do!

*****Psa 146:8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

Blindness in the Bible is portrayed as those who are morally and spiritually ignorant of the truth of God!

Isa 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
Isa 59:10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

But only Jehovah God can not only open the eyes of the spiritually blind, He can also open the eyes of those who are physically blind. Those that are born blind and those that become blind by accident.

There is no case of blindness that cannot be overcome by the Lord!

It is also the Lord God Almighty who can raise us up from our lowest point of depression.

So many of our young people are taking their own lives today because they do not see another way out of this depressed world.

There are evil men who take advantage of those young minds and convince them of a false path to Heaven but the only sure path and out of all misery is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Who are God's favorite people? Those that do things the right way!

The righteous are only those that are obedient to the Word of God!

There is only one commandment that has fit this world we live in from the time of Adam until the Lord takes us all home to be with Him!

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

*****Psa 146:9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

There are too many people in this world who feel like they have been abandoned by mankind. These are not just the oppressed who slip over our national borders but even some here in America who are truly trying to escape oppression and depression.

There are many who come for the right reasons and many who come for the wrong reasons.

Even Jesus turned away those that just wanted a handout!

Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

To seek God just to get our wants supplied is selfishness and gross sin!

To seek any nation only to have your needs supplied is wrong.

A government that provides needs just to make it's people more dependent on those needs is also evil!

God is interested in that stranger who is seeking a better life.

God does not forbid us to seek happiness but we are to seek it in the proper way. That way begins with seeking the Lord!

It is to the true stranger that God will send the Holy Ghost along with God's people bringing the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

It is also the fatherless who can find the true Father in Heaven.

It is the widow who can find the true Bridegroom.

Jehovah God is the only true Friend to all those who have no earthly protector!

Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

There is no one who still lives that cannot have a Friend in Heaven if they truly seek the Lord!

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

It is Jehovah, the true God that will reign forever!

*****Psa 146:10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to this Earth, He will establish Himself as King in Jerusalem!

Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

It is the covenants that God has made that will insure that there will be a literal and physical return of Christ Jesus to establish His Kingdom.

The Jews will be gathered:

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Jews will be converted:

Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

There will then be a time of peace that this world has never known since the time of Adam:

Mic 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Mic 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Mic 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

Only believers will enter into this Kingdom:

Psa 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
Psa 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Jesus Christ will rule as King:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

And King David will be Christ's Regent:

Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

And Jerusalem will then be the center of the world:

Zec 8:3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

This Kingdom on Earth will last for 1000 years but King Jesus will reign forever!

This Kingdom on Earth will end because the Heaven and the Earth will be judged because they were the domain of Satan's rebellion against God!

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The eternal state of the Redeemed will then begin:

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

God does not leave any doubt of His future plans.

It is our generation that now have the duty of giving this message to this lost world!

Questions?

Let's Pray!