Preaching to Please Men or God?

1. Preaching to Please Men or God? Galatians 1:10

2. Galatians 1:6-12 “ 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. 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. 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. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

3. Introduction • This letter written by the Apostle Paul! • The Galatians had compromised with false teachers • Paul was amazed at their quick departure from the truth! • Galatians 1:6-7 • Paul taught: • Teach no other doctrine – 1 Timothy 1:3; 6:3, 10 • Do not teach a different doctrine – Galatians 1:7-9 • 1 John 4:1-3 • Paul certifies that he taught the truth! • Galatians 1:11-12 • “Certify” - to make known; subjectively, to know:--certify, declare, make known, give to understand, do to wit, wot. – Strong • His purpose in preaching was to please God, not man!

4. Never Forget Acts 5:27-32 “27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”

5. 1 Corinthians 9:16 “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

6. Mike Willis on 1 Corinthians 9:16b • “Yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! The interjection woe (ouai) denotes calamity. The obvious meaning of the term is that Paul would lose his own personal salvation in the event that he decided to quit preaching the gospel. Thus, Paul was compelled to preach the gospel since Jesus had hand-picked him for that task” • Truth Commentaries, First Corinthians, Willis, Pg. 242

7. Men Pleasing Preaching Don’t Condemn Us Brother Go Easy Preacher One Church as Good as Another Our Giving Our Error No Obedience Saved People in Denominational Churches Conscience Saves Our Worldliness Morality Saves Our Unauthorized Practices Baptism Because Of Nothing To Do Don’t Fight Others No Controversy No Controversy Don’t Preach too Long Church of Your Choice Make Everyone “Feel Good” Faith Only Be Only Positive-No Negativity Pray for salvation Their Reward – Popularity – Financial Security – Matthew 6:1-2 Their Judgment – Matthew 7:21-23; 25:41; 2 Peter 2:1-3

8. 2006 ACU Annual Lectureship Report “One taught, ‘we are hypocrites when we look down our noses at the denominations, they are Christians…all come to Christ through the cross’…They taught ‘we are NOT saved because we are right, BUT because Jesus was right. It is just the PERSON, not the doctrine’…They constantly said,‘we are saved by GRACE, not by being united in doctrine,’ making fun of unity in doctrine and practice.” Comments by brother David D. Bonner in his article entitled, “ACU Lecturship-2006,” Gospel Truths, April 2006, p.1.

9. Matthew 7:21-23 • “21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. • 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? • 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

10. Matthew 25:41 • “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”

11. 2 Peter 2:1-3 - NJKV • “1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. • 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. • 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”

12. God Pleasing Preaching Hagiazoto - make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: hallow, be holy, sanctify. • “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” • John 8:32 “…woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel”– 1 Cor. 9:16 • “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” • John 17:17

13. God Pleasing Preachers… • PREACH: • His Word – 2 Timothy 2:1-7; Colossians 1:5 • The Gospel – Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-9 • The Way – John 14:6; 10:9; 1:17 • The Faith – Jude 3; Romans 10:17; Galatians 2:16 • Obedience – Romans 6:16-23; Acts 10:34-35 • Hebrews 5:8-9 • The One Baptism – Eph. 4:5 Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16 • The One Church – Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4-6 • All Things Profitable– Acts 20:20; 26:20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

14. God Pleasing Preachers… • ENCOURAGE: • Faithfulness – Hebrews 10:21-25 • Steadfastness – 1 Cor. 15:58; Heb. 6:9-12 • Spiritual Growth – 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:1-2 • Liberality– 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Prov. 11:25 • Purity – 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7; 1 John 3:1-3 • Brotherly Love – Rom. 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:9; Heb. 13:1

15. God Pleasing Preachers… • WARN: • As the Prophets & Apostles warned: • Isa. 58:1; Ezk. 33:8-9; 1 Thess. 5:14 • Against Disobedience – 2 Thess. 1:7-9 • On Division – John 17:20-23; 1 Cor. 1:10-13 • On Worldliness – Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9 • Of False Teachers – Rom. 16:17-18 • 2 Peter 2:1; Matt. 7:15-20

16. God Pleasing Preachers… • REWARD of Men: • Unpopular – Luke 6:26; 2 Timothy 3:12 • Hated – Matt. 10:22; 24:9 • John 15:18-25; 17:14 • John the Baptist – Matthew 14 • JUDGMENT Of God: • Pleasing – 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:8 • Matthew 25:34

17. 1 Timothy 4:16 • “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

18. 2Timothy 4:7-8 • “7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: • 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

19. Galatians 1:9-10 “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. 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. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

20. Question to Ponder… Who do you want preaching to you, a preacher who pleases men or a preacher who is pleasing to God? Which?