Seeing Clearly: The True Lens of the Gospel
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the first chapter of Galatians, exploring the profound impact of the gospel on our worldview. Using the analogy of the green glasses from "The Wizard of Oz," we discussed how our worldview shapes our perception of reality. Just as the citizens of the Emerald City were deceived by the wizard's green glasses, we too can be misled by false teachings and distorted worldviews. The gospel, however, provides us with the correct lens to see the world as it truly is.
We emphasized that grace, a central theme in Paul's letter to the Galatians, takes some getting used to. Just as it takes time for our eyes to adjust to a new prescription, it takes time for our hearts and minds to adjust to the radical concept of grace. Paul wrote to the Galatians to remind them of the true gospel and to warn them against false leaders who were distorting the message of grace. These false leaders were adding requirements to the gospel, making it "Jesus plus" something else, which nullified the true gospel.
We also discussed the importance of right leadership, rooted in Jesus' authority and work. Paul, as an apostle appointed by Jesus, had the responsibility to guide the Galatians back to the true gospel. He reminded them that leadership in the church is a stewardship from God and must be rooted in Jesus' authority, work, and family.
Finally, we addressed the real threat of different gospels that appeal to our flesh and distort the truth. These false teachings can lead us away from the grace of Christ and into a performance-based faith. Paul warned the Galatians that anyone who preaches a gospel contrary to the one they received is accursed. We must stand guard against these threats and remain faithful to the true gospel, which delivers us from sin and evil and brings glory to God.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Gospel as Our Lens: Just as the citizens of the Emerald City were deceived by green glasses, our worldview can be distorted by false teachings. The gospel provides the correct lens to see the world as it truly is, revealing the truth and exposing lies. We must continually adjust our vision to align with the gospel. [04:54]
2. Grace Takes Time to Adjust To: Grace is a radical concept that takes time to fully embrace. Like adjusting to a new prescription, our hearts and minds need time to recalibrate to the truth of God's unmerited favor. We must resist the temptation to revert to old, performance-based mindsets. [06:53]
3. Right Leadership Matters: Leadership in the church must be rooted in Jesus' authority, work, and family. Paul reminded the Galatians of his apostolic authority, given by Jesus, to guide them back to the true gospel. Right leadership points us to Jesus and keeps us grounded in the truth. [10:47]
4. The True Gospel Delivers: The true gospel delivers grace and peace, unmerited favor from God, and peace that surpasses understanding. It delivers us from sin and evil, providing the only real hope in a fallen world. Any addition to the gospel nullifies its power and distorts its message. [20:31]
5. Beware of Different Gospels: Different gospels appeal to our flesh and distort the truth. They add requirements to the gospel, making it "Jesus plus" something else, which leads us away from grace. We must stand guard against these threats and remain faithful to the true gospel, which alone brings glory to God. [28:18]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:16] - Introduction: Books vs. Movies
[02:06] - The Wizard of Oz and Green Glasses
[03:10] - Worldview and the Gospel
[04:54] - The Lens of the Gospel
[05:50] - Adjusting to New Vision
[06:53] - Grace Takes Time to Adjust To
[07:53] - The New Normal
[08:52] - Prayer for New Vision
[09:45] - Right Leadership
[10:47] - Leadership Rooted in Jesus
[12:53] - The Role of an Apostle
[14:55] - The Danger of Charismatic Leaders
[18:37] - Leadership in the Local Church
[20:31] - The True Gospel
[24:26] - Deliverance from Sin and Evil
[26:17] - Glory to God
[28:18] - The Real Threat of Different Gospels
[29:59] - Distortion of the Truth
[32:00] - The Strategy of Satan
[33:46] - The Curse of False Gospels
[35:53] - Standing Guard Against Threats
[37:42] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 1:1-10
2. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
3. Genesis 3:1-7
#### Observation Questions
1. In Galatians 1:1-2, how does Paul describe his apostleship and what is its significance? [09:45]
2. According to Galatians 1:6-7, what astonishes Paul about the Galatians' behavior? [28:18]
3. What does Paul emphasize about his message in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, and how does it contrast with the qualities of the wrong leaders? [16:49]
4. In Genesis 3:1-7, how does the serpent distort God's command to Eve, and what is the result of this distortion? [32:00]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul stress the importance of his apostolic authority in Galatians 1:1-2, and how does this relate to the concept of right leadership in the church? [09:45]
2. How does the analogy of the green glasses from "The Wizard of Oz" help us understand the impact of false teachings on our worldview? [04:54]
3. What does Paul mean when he says that grace takes some getting used to, and how does this concept challenge our natural inclinations? [06:53]
4. How do different gospels appeal to our flesh, and why is this a significant threat to the true gospel according to Galatians 1:6-7? [28:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "green glasses" or false teachings that have distorted your view of the gospel? How can you begin to see the world through the correct lens of the gospel? [04:54]
2. Grace is a radical concept that takes time to adjust to. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to fully embrace God's grace? What steps can you take to recalibrate your heart and mind to this truth? [06:53]
3. Leadership in the church is crucial. How can you support and encourage your church leaders to stay rooted in Jesus' authority, work, and family? Are there specific actions you can take to help maintain right leadership in your community? [10:47]
4. The true gospel delivers us from sin and evil. In what ways have you experienced this deliverance in your own life? How can you share this message of hope with others who are struggling? [20:31]
5. Different gospels can subtly appeal to our flesh. Are there any teachings or practices in your life that add to the gospel, making it "Jesus plus" something else? How can you guard against these distortions and remain faithful to the true gospel? [28:18]
6. Think about a time when you were tempted to revert to a performance-based mindset rather than relying on God's grace. How did you overcome this temptation, and what can you do to prevent it from happening again? [06:53]
7. How can you help others in your small group or church community to see clearly the real threat of different gospels and stand guard against them? What practical steps can you take together to ensure you remain grounded in the true gospel? [35:53]
Devotional
Day 1: The Gospel as Our Lens
Our worldview can be easily distorted by false teachings, much like the citizens of the Emerald City were deceived by the wizard's green glasses. The gospel, however, provides the correct lens through which we can see the world as it truly is. It reveals the truth and exposes lies, helping us to navigate life with clarity and purpose. By continually adjusting our vision to align with the gospel, we can avoid being misled by distorted worldviews and false teachings. This adjustment requires a conscious effort to immerse ourselves in the truth of the gospel and to let it shape our perception of reality. [04:54]
2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV): "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Reflection: What are some specific ways you can immerse yourself in the gospel this week to ensure your worldview is aligned with God's truth?
Day 2: Grace Takes Time to Adjust To
Grace is a radical concept that often takes time to fully embrace. Just as it takes time for our eyes to adjust to a new prescription, our hearts and minds need time to recalibrate to the truth of God's unmerited favor. This adjustment process can be challenging, as we may be tempted to revert to old, performance-based mindsets. However, understanding and accepting grace is crucial for our spiritual growth. It requires us to let go of the notion that we can earn God's favor and to rest in the assurance that His love and acceptance are freely given. [06:53]
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 areas of your life do you find yourself reverting to a performance-based mindset? How can you remind yourself of God's grace in those moments?
Day 3: Right Leadership Matters
Leadership in the church must be rooted in Jesus' authority, work, and family. Paul reminded the Galatians of his apostolic authority, given by Jesus, to guide them back to the true gospel. Right leadership is essential because it points us to Jesus and keeps us grounded in the truth. Leaders who are rooted in Jesus' authority are stewards of God's message and are responsible for guiding the congregation in the right direction. This kind of leadership helps to protect the church from false teachings and ensures that the gospel remains central to its mission. [10:47]
1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Reflection: How can you support and encourage the leaders in your church to remain rooted in Jesus' authority and truth?
Day 4: The True Gospel Delivers
The true gospel delivers grace and peace, unmerited favor from God, and peace that surpasses understanding. It delivers us from sin and evil, providing the only real hope in a fallen world. Any addition to the gospel nullifies its power and distorts its message. The simplicity and purity of the gospel must be preserved to ensure that its transformative power is not compromised. By holding fast to the true gospel, we can experience the fullness of God's grace and the peace that comes from knowing we are saved by His work alone. [20:31]
Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Reflection: Are there any "additions" you have unknowingly attached to the gospel in your life? How can you return to the simplicity and purity of the true gospel?
Day 5: Beware of Different Gospels
Different gospels appeal to our flesh and distort the truth. They add requirements to the gospel, making it "Jesus plus" something else, which leads us away from grace. These false teachings can be enticing because they often promise something that appeals to our desires or fears. However, they ultimately lead us away from the true gospel and into a performance-based faith. We must stand guard against these threats and remain faithful to the true gospel, which alone brings glory to God. By being vigilant and discerning, we can protect ourselves and our community from the dangers of false teachings. [28:18]
Galatians 1:6-7 (ESV): "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—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ."
Reflection: What are some "different gospels" you have encountered in your life? How can you guard your heart and mind against these distortions and remain faithful to the true gospel?
Quotes
1. "Now, if you're a follower of Jesus, the gospel and God's word is to be the lens that helps us to see the world correctly. Okay. Well, here's the problem. The world is full of wizards who want you to wear their glasses to distort how you see the world. Now, as I said last week, my vision is terrible, all right? When I was younger, my prescription was changing faster, all right? It was always getting worse. And so, you know, I needed a new prescription all the time. But. I remember as poor young marrieds, I didn't go to the doctor when I should have because it costs money to go to the doctor and we didn't have that. And so, I tried to manage and kind of adjust to poor vision, okay? I can make this work. But finally, I went to the eye doctor, I picked up my new glasses, I put them on and I tried to drive home. Can you guess what happened? Okay. I could barely drive. I mean, my eyes needed time to adjust to the new prescription. I mean, I was finally seeing the world the way it really looked, but my brain needed time to recalculate. So the temptation was to put on my old glasses. You see, when we see life through the lens of the gospel. Okay. It can take some time to adjust." [05:50] (106 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Grace takes some getting used to. Grace takes some getting used to. So when it gets a little hard, don't go back to the old lens. The lens of the gospel changes everything for us and how we see the world, how we respond to the world. But, but here's what happens. Our flesh, our brain can have a hard time adjusting and the inertia of life. Okay. The current of life in a society and a culture that refuses to see the world correctly. They're all wearing green glasses or something else. It puts a lot of pressure on us. It puts a lot of pressure on us to put on the old glasses." [06:53] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So the new normal is life with the right prescription in our lens. And church is the place where we can be reminded that, you know, you're not crazy. Okay. The way the things you're seeing, the way you're interpreting, the way you're responding to these events out there from a biblical worldview, you're not crazy. Okay. We agree. We agree. We're looking through the same lens. But grace is a foreign concept to a lost world, but we just need to be honest. Sometimes grace, even for us as followers of Jesus, it takes some getting used to, takes some getting used to." [07:53] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Leadership matters in every area of life. And you know, we're feeling the effects of good leadership or bad leadership all around us in everyday life crises that we've been through that we're continuing to go through. They expose the kind of leaders we have and you know, it impacts our lives. We all feel it. Leadership absolutely matters. And Paul was clearly a leader. He was a leader to these churches. He was the missionary, the evangelist, the church planter who started these churches." [10:47] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The true gospel is pretty simple and these wrong leaders who had come to them were obviously persuasive but they were making life more complicated and we're going to get into their message a little deeper into this letter but basically this is what they were doing they were promoting a message of jesus plus they were adding to the message of the gospel and we'll see that by adding something they were actually destroying the gospel it was no longer good news so paul wants them to see very clearly the true gospel and the true gospel is this it's that which delivers several things first grace and peace grace and peace those are two things that you won't find as the hallmark of any other religion unmerited favor from god it's grace undeserved and peace that passes understanding only the true gospel through faith in jesus christ can deliver these things so if the message that you're hearing is you need jesus plus something else it's not the true gospel." [20:31] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Now human beings we're very vulnerable to adding other conditions to the gospel man-made religion has trained us to want to earn favor to earn what we're getting man-made religion is also usually very enmeshed with cultural conditions so for the wrong leaders that were influencing the gospel we're going to need jesus plus something else it was this it was adding jewish cultural requirements and jewish legal requirements yes you need jesus plus you need to become like a jew that nullifies grace it removes the peace now i have to perform it's not the true gospel and grace is such a radical concept it takes some getting used to and it's not the true gospel it's not the true gospel it's not the true gospel wrong leaders they seized on that opportunity to distort the gospel so so paul right here helps them to see clearly this the true gospel also delivers us from sin and evil says jesus gave himself for our sins was it enough was that enough was jesus's death on the cross enough to deliver you from your sins well if it was enough then you don't need to add anything god's grace is his unmerited favor so what do we say god's riches at christ's expense grace if you say you need something more like well you need to follow certain rules you need to conform to a cultural identity then what you're saying is this jesus's death is giving himself for our sins it wasn't enough you need it but you need something more that's not the true gospel and we need to see that very clearly um delivers us from our sins but the gospel also delivers us from evil it says right there in verse four from the present evil age now there's a lot of evil going on in our world today our country is grappling with very real evil and racism in the violence it produces and having the power to deal with it and the power to deal with it in the right lens okay having a biblical worldview reminds us oh we live in a fallen world the only real hope we have to be delivered from this present evil age is the true gospel so if we don't recognize that the root problems in our culture are spiritual then what are we doing we're just mowing down weeds doesn't my yard look nice now i haven't solved any problems when i mow weeds down we're not solving any problems until we get to the root and losing our way from god that's what's resulted in us losing our way from men everybody wants peace but the church needs to be the herald the champion of this truth there is no peace between men until we find peace with god and through the deliverance of the gospel deliverance that only jesus brings period period and we know in the end it also delivers this glory to god verse five it does this forever and ever one day every knee will bow every tongue will confess that jesus christ is lord and then what does paul say there at the end of verse five amen you know in the first five verses he just kind of recalibrates the galatians to right leadership remember the true gospel amen but then he continues and the reason is this in the new normal we need to see clearly the real threat there's a real threat and starting in verse six paul says he's astonished he's stunned he's in disbelief how could this happen you see news had gotten to him that the galatians had fallen prey to some wrong leaders grace takes some getting used to and the galatians had fallen prey to these wrong leaders who preached a different gospel which really was no gospel at all so you know paul lays into them pretty hard starting in verse six now the threats that we may be facing in our world uh maybe you know a little bit different um not exactly the same but but we still need to see clearly that we're vulnerable we're vulnerable to these kinds of threats because here's the first thing you need to know about different gospels they appeal to our flesh look at verse six i am astonished that you're so quickly deserted who called you in the grace of christ and you're turning to a different gospel okay do you understand what you've done you've put yourself under the authority of people who don't have the right to lead you and what's so astonishing to paul is how quickly the church was willing to abandon the true gospel god had called them in grace well they had deserted that and it turned to a different message how does this happen well this happens today and we're more vulnerable than you think because different gospels appeal to our flesh and we'll get into the specifics of this false teaching later in the letter but you see wrong leaders they know where your weak spots are they know where you're vulnerable and grace is such a critical element of the true gospel but here's the problem grace goes against our flesh this it goes against this human desire to say ah i deserve that okay i've earned it somehow our flesh wants to get some credit and wrong leaders are glad to help you out with that and so they add a few requirements that help you and help them feel better about yourself and feel worse about those who don't agree with you see that's what happens with different gospels paul told the corinthian church if you think you're standing firm if you think you're standing careful unless you fall it's a real threat and it's a real threat because wrong leaders use different gospels to do this secondly to distort the truth wrong leaders distort the truth look at verse 7 you've turned to a different gospel not that there is another one but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of christ see wrong leaders they don't come in and just throw away everything you've been taught they add to it they distort it if they came in and said you got it all wrong we'd probably be less vulnerable but that's not what they do they bring trouble by distorting the gospel yes jesus is wonderful but god also wants you to do this or that if you really want to know that you're saved which you do right well then you need to do this or that or not do this or not do that and guess what we can help you with that that's not the true gospel anymore when we do that we're deserting him who called us in the grace of christ so so this particular threat has been around a long time actually from the beginning of the creation uh in fact it's the key strategy of our real enemy satan in genesis 3 in the garden of eden satan tempts eve with the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you remember the story he appeals to the flesh and he distorts the truth let's just look at this passage i'll put it on the screen here genesis 3 verses 1 to 7 okay now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field like a wizard okay it might more than any other beast of the field that the lord god had made and he said to the woman did god actually say you shall not eat of any tree in the garden you see the distortion already give you some credit here in verse 2 the woman said to the serpent no we may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden but god said you shall not eat of the fruit of the garden of the tree that is in the midst of the garden this particular tree neither shall you touch it lest you die good job eve all right okay she's right but the serpent said to the woman you'll not surely die for god knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened you'll be like god knowing good and evil well that sounds good i'd like those things okay so satan's appealing to her flesh so when the woman saw that the tree was good for food that it was a delight to the eyes that is pretty fruit that looks good and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise wisdom's good she took of its fruit and ate she also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate then the eyes of both were opened and they knew that they were naked they lost their way from god see this this is the problem in our world today as we saw last week there's only one solution to this who's the solution jesus jesus is enough it's not jesus plus i mean paul knows this is serious stuff the the threat is real he sees the crafty scheme going on of the scheme of satan going on behind these wrong leaders and he makes it really clear those who promote it are the ones who are the ones who are the買い behind that but he knows what's good for them and he took the ant серд拯 playing the part of the serpent's晚上 against it but hope which came out from the here and you were right said before and i'm gonna say it again right now if the evil in this picture is wrong because anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Back in Genesis 3, verse 14, God tells Satan, you're cursed for what he had done to lead man astray. God says in the end that one of Eve's offspring, Jesus, that Satan would strike his heel, okay, that's crucifixion, but that Jesus would crush his head. Satan will eventually be destroyed. And anyone who changes the gospel, anyone who distorts it, they put themselves in the same place as Satan. They are cursed. Well, listen, we are all a work in progress. We are going to stumble along the way, but when we put our faith in Jesus, we entered a new normal. And we need to see clearly that in this new normal, we need to make sure that we listen to the right leaders, that we're listening to God's word, that we're staying faithful and true to the true gospel, and that we're standing guard against very real threats. If we didn't need to stand guard, is that because there's no threats? The reason you stand guard is because there's threats. Threats that appeal to our flesh. Threats that sound good, but they're a distortion. Threats do not have God's glory in mind. Threats, these threats do not have our best interests in mind. You see, different gospels are cursed. It's not going to end well for those wrong leaders or for those followers who abandon God's grace and turn to a different gospel. So to thrive in this new normal, we need one another. We need the family of Jesus. We need the local church to remind us we're not crazy. This is the way the world really is. And God has a message for us today in this letter that was written to the churches of Galatia. Grace, it takes some getting used to, doesn't it? But the more you drink in God's grace, through faith in Jesus, the more you drink in God's grace. And the true gospel, you will know it because he will give you peace. I look forward to the rest of this letter, but let's pray. God, thank you for these truths. Thanks for just recalibrating us and reminding us right there at the beginning, grace, grace and peace is what I want you to know." [24:26] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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