Do Not Distort the Gospel: Understanding True Grace and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The True Gospel: Christ Died and Rose Again for Our Sins

The heart of the gospel is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, just as the Scriptures foretold. This is not a myth or a man-made story, but a historical reality witnessed by many, including the apostles and over 500 others. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith, proving that He is truly the Son of God and that His promises of forgiveness and eternal life are trustworthy. Because of this, we can have assurance that our sins are forgiven and that we have hope beyond this life. [41:16]

1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (ESV)
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep."

Reflection: Do you truly believe that Jesus died and rose again for your sins? How does this belief shape the way you face your fears and your future today?

Day 2: Salvation Is by Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone

Salvation is a gift from God, given by His grace and received through faith in Jesus Christ—not by our own efforts, good works, or religious rituals. We cannot earn or deserve this salvation; it is entirely the result of God’s unmerited favor. Even our faith is a gift from Him. When we trust in Christ, we are saved, and this assurance is not based on our performance but on the finished work of Jesus. Good works follow as a result of salvation, not as a requirement for it. [46:31]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to rely on your own efforts or goodness for acceptance with God? What would it look like to rest fully in His grace today?

Day 3: Do Not Distort the Gospel—Guard the Truth

The gospel is unchangeable and must not be altered or added to, no matter who tries to change it—even if it were an angel from heaven. Any distortion of the gospel, whether by adding requirements or changing its message, leads people away from Christ and brings serious consequences. We must know the true gospel for ourselves so that we are not deceived by false teachings or cultural trends that try to make the message more palatable or relevant. The gospel’s power and truth are timeless and do not need improvement. [18:06]

Galatians 1:8-9 (ESV)
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed."

Reflection: Are there voices or influences in your life that subtly add to or change the gospel message? How can you be more vigilant in guarding the truth of the gospel this week?

Day 4: The Gospel Transforms Lives

The evidence of truly understanding and receiving the gospel is a transformed life. The gospel is the power of God for salvation, changing hearts and producing new desires, attitudes, and actions. When someone encounters Jesus, their life is never the same—they become eager to share the good news, live differently, and bring glory to God. True grace does not give a license to sin; instead, it produces real change, as seen in the lives of people like Paul and countless others who have been set free from their past. [53:32]

Romans 1:16 (ESV)
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have seen God’s transforming power at work? Is there a part of your life that still needs to be surrendered to Him for transformation?

Day 5: Know, Experience, and Share the Gospel

It is not enough to simply know about the gospel intellectually; we must personally experience its power and share it with others. God has set each of us apart for a purpose, and He calls us to trust in Christ alone for salvation and to live out our faith boldly. As we experience God’s grace, we are called to not be ashamed of the gospel but to share it eagerly, knowing that it is God’s power to save and transform others as well. [01:00:58]

Galatians 1:15-16 (ESV)
"But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who needs to hear the true gospel? How can you take a step to share God’s grace and your story with them this week?

Sermon Summary

The book of Galatians is a powerful reminder that the gospel of grace is not just a doctrine to be understood, but a truth to be lived. The gospel is foundational—what we believe about God and His salvation shapes every aspect of our lives. Many people, even in the earliest days of the church, tried to distort the gospel, adding requirements or changing its message. But the true gospel cannot be changed, improved, or amended. It is the good news that Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins, rescuing us from this present evil age, not because of our works, but by His grace alone.

Understanding doctrine is not an academic exercise; it is essential because belief always precedes behavior. If our understanding of God is distorted, our lives will reflect that distortion. The gospel is not about what we can do for God, but what God has done for us in Christ. Paul’s authority as an apostle came directly from Jesus, not from men, and the message he preached was not invented by human wisdom but revealed by God Himself.

The gospel is simple yet profound: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. The resurrection is central—it proves Jesus is who He claimed to be, validates His promises, and assures us of forgiveness and eternal life. No other religious leader has made such claims or provided such evidence. The gospel is not a result of human effort or tradition; it is a gift of grace, received by faith.

Any attempt to add to the gospel—whether through legalism, prosperity teaching, or cultural adaptation—distorts its power and message. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The evidence of truly understanding and experiencing the gospel is a transformed life. The gospel does not give us a license to sin; rather, real grace changes our desires and empowers us to live for God. Like Paul, those who have encountered the gospel are eager, obligated, and unashamed to share it, and their lives bring glory to God.

Key Takeaways

1. The True Gospel Cannot Be Changed The gospel is timeless and complete; it does not need improvement or amendment. Any attempt to add requirements or alter its message is a distortion that empties it of its saving power. The gospel’s authority comes from God, not from human tradition or opinion. We must be vigilant to know and guard the true gospel, lest we be deceived by false teachings. [14:12]
2. Salvation Is By Grace Through Faith Alone Salvation is not earned by works, religious rituals, or personal merit. It is a gift of grace, received through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross and His resurrection. This truth humbles us, strips away self-reliance, and leads us to trust wholly in Jesus. Any gospel that requires “Jesus plus” something else is a counterfeit. [46:31]
3. The Resurrection Validates and Empowers the Gospel The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical fact; it is the foundation of our hope and the guarantee of our forgiveness. It proves Jesus’ identity, assures us of life after death, and grounds our faith in reality, not myth. Because Jesus lives, we can trust His promises and live with confidence and purpose. [41:16]
4. The Gospel Transforms Lives, Not Just Minds True understanding of the gospel results in a changed life. Grace does not give us a license to sin; it transforms our desires and empowers us to live for God. The evidence of the gospel is seen in a life that brings glory to God, marked by eagerness, obligation, and boldness to share the good news. [52:56]
5. Knowing Doctrine Protects Against Deception We live in a world full of distorted gospels—legalism, prosperity, cultural adaptation. Only by knowing the truth of Scripture can we discern and resist these counterfeits. Doctrine is not dry or irrelevant; it is the safeguard of our faith and the foundation for living out the gospel authentically. [62:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:05] - Overview of Galatians and Series
[03:04] - Why Doctrine Matters
[05:36] - Don’t Distort the Gospel
[06:13] - Paul’s Apostolic Authority
[08:19] - Paul’s Encounter with Jesus
[10:22] - Grace and Peace: The Gospel’s Greeting
[12:17] - Jesus Gave Himself for Our Sins
[14:12] - The Gospel Cannot Be Changed
[16:10] - Early Distortions of the Gospel
[18:06] - The Seriousness of Distorting the Gospel
[22:30] - Adding to the Gospel: Historical Context
[23:49] - Justification by Faith, Not Works
[29:12] - The Gospel Is from God, Not Man
[31:08] - Paul’s Testimony: Transformation by Grace
[39:14] - The Core of the Gospel: Death and Resurrection
[41:16] - The Importance of the Resurrection
[46:31] - Salvation by Grace Through Faith
[49:52] - False Gospels and Modern Distortions
[52:56] - The Transforming Power of the Gospel
[55:29] - Evidence of a Changed Life
[57:40] - Invitation to Experience the Gospel
[58:14] - John Newton: Amazing Grace
[59:40] - Prayer of Surrender
[62:16] - Sunday Fast Track: Q&A

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Galatians 1:1-12 (ESV) — 1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.
12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (ESV) — 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Observation Questions

According to Galatians 1:4, what did Jesus do for us, and what was the purpose of His sacrifice?
In Galatians 1:6-9, what is Paul’s reaction to the Galatians turning to a “different gospel,” and how serious does he consider this issue?
Based on Ephesians 2:8-9, what is the basis of our salvation, and what is specifically excluded as a means of being saved?
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, what are the essential elements of the gospel that Paul says are “of first importance”?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that his apostleship and the gospel message come directly from Jesus and not from men? How does this affect the authority of his message? ([06:13])
The sermon mentioned that “belief always precedes behavior.” How does a distorted understanding of the gospel affect the way someone lives? ([04:18])
Why is it so tempting for people to add requirements or traditions to the gospel, even though Paul warns against it? ([22:30])
The resurrection is described as central to the gospel. What difference does it make to our faith and hope that Jesus rose from the dead? ([41:16])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “If our understanding of God is distorted, our lives will reflect that distortion.” Are there any ways you have misunderstood the gospel in the past? How did that affect your life or faith? ([04:18])
Paul warns that even if an angel preaches a different gospel, we should not believe it. What are some “distorted gospels” or false teachings you have encountered in your life, church, or culture? How did you recognize them? ([18:06])
The message emphasized that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Do you ever find yourself trying to “earn” God’s acceptance or add something to the gospel? What does that look like for you? ([46:31])
The evidence of truly understanding the gospel is a transformed life. In what specific ways have you seen God change your desires, habits, or priorities since coming to faith? ([52:56])
The sermon challenged us to be “eager, obligated, and unashamed” to share the gospel. Which of these attitudes do you find most challenging, and why? What is one step you can take this week to grow in that area? ([54:09])
Knowing doctrine protects us from deception. What is one practical way you can grow in your understanding of the true gospel and help others do the same? ([01:02:51])
The resurrection gives us hope and confidence. Is there an area of your life where you need to trust more in the power of the risen Christ? How can you remind yourself of this truth in your daily life? ([41:16])

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