God’s Path, Purpose, & Plan
An abstract of TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus’ sermon on September 1, 2024 in the Galatians series. Watch the sermon video here.
Have you ever felt like being a Christian is all about following a long list of rules and regulations? Like you have to do a bunch of things perfectly to please God and earn your way to heaven?
If so, you're not alone. Many people, both Christians and non-Christians, see Christianity this way. But the truth is, the Christian faith is not about doing more and being perfect - it's about finding freedom, hope, and peace in a relationship with God through Jesus.
In the Bible book of Galatians, the apostle Paul addresses a group of churches that had started to twist the true meaning of the gospel message. Let's dive in and discover what the authentic gospel is all about.
When the Path Gets Twisted
The churches in the region of Galatia (located in modern-day Turkey) had started to add extra requirements on top of simply believing in Jesus for salvation. They were convinced that to be a true Christian, you had to follow certain rules and rituals on top of having faith in Christ.
Like Pastor Connor Kraus mentioned in his sermon, it's kind of like when he hit a curb while driving and bent his car's axle. Even though the car could still drive, it was damaged and no longer safe. The mechanics told him the axle was bent just a little bit - not enough to stop the car, but enough that it wasn't safe to keep driving.
That's what was happening with the gospel message in Galatia. It sounded close to the truth, but it was slightly twisted and bent, leading people down an unsafe path.
The people there would say things like, "Yes, we believe Jesus died for our sins and that he's the only way to heaven." But then they'd add, "But you also have to follow all these extra rules and rituals to be a real Christian."
Paul saw this and knew it was a problem. The true gospel message is about freedom in Christ, not added burdens.
God's Perfect Plan
You see, God's plan from the very beginning has been to bring people into a loving relationship with him through Jesus. The gospel - the good news - is that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and all we have to do is believe in him to be forgiven and saved.
It's not about doing good deeds or following a long list of rules. It's simply about trusting in what Jesus has already done for us.
As Paul writes in the opening of his letter to the Galatians, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all" (Galatians 1:6-7).
The gospel message the Galatians were believing wasn't the true gospel at all. It was a twisted version that added unnecessary rules and requirements, taking away the freedom and peace that comes from knowing Jesus.
Finding True Freedom If you've ever felt like being a Christian is all about performing perfectly and measuring up to a long list of do's and don'ts, the book of Galatians is for you. It's a reminder that the gospel is not about doing more, but about being set free in Christ.
In fact, whether you are a long-time Christian or someone who is skeptical of the faith, Galatians has an important message for you. For Christians, it reveals how easy it is to start twisting the gospel without even realizing it. And for non-Christians, it shows that the Christian faith is not about rules and regulations, but about finding true freedom, hope, and peace.
The stereotype of Christianity being all about do's and don'ts couldn't be further from the truth. The real gospel message is about being liberated from the burden of trying to earn our way to God. As Paul writes, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).
God's plan has always been to bring people into a loving relationship with him, not to load them down with endless rules. The gospel is about resting in what Jesus has already done, not about working harder to please God.
A Call to Action
As we journey through the book of Galatians together, we'll uncover more of these twisted versions of the gospel. We'll see how easy it is to start adding extra requirements on top of simply trusting in Christ.
But the good news is, when we understand the true gospel message, it has the power to transform our lives. It frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's love and acceptance. It gives us peace, hope, and joy that can't be found anywhere else.
So whether you've been a Christian for a long time or you're just exploring the faith, we encourage you to stick with us. Let's dive into Galatians together and rediscover the freedom, hope, and purpose that comes from knowing the true gospel message.
Because when we get the gospel right, everything else in our lives starts to fall into place. We find the meaning, fulfillment, and true transformation we've been searching for.
So join us on this journey through Galatians. Let's uncover the twisted versions of the gospel and rediscover the freedom, peace, and joy that comes from knowing and living out the true gospel message.