INTRODUCTION: The Apostle Paul was shocked. He marveled that the Galatians had so quickly left the pure teachings of Christ and His gospel in order to follow another gospel. But this other gospel is still with us today. It always starts with the gospel of Christ. Then, it simply adds something, anything, to that gospel. Be sure that you have the pure gospel as your foundation for eternal life.

1. THE TRUE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 [1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [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; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
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1. Its Outline
1. The death of Christ for our sins
2. The burial of Christ
3. The resurrection of Christ
2. Its Authority
1. According to the scriptures
1. Scriptures refer to the holy writings of God: compare scribble, inscribe, inscription, etc.
2. Scripture is our authority for all doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
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2. Not based on other authorities
1. Not Tradition:  the authority of man’s long-time practice (Matthew 15:1-9 [1] Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, [2] Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. [3] But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? [4] For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. [5] But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; [6] And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. [7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, [8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
   See All..., esp. verses 3,6,9; Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
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2. Not Philosophy: the authority of man’s greatest wisdom (Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
   See All...; Acts 17:18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
   See All..., with verses 16,22,23)
3. Not Science: the authority of observable facts and repeatable physical laws (1 Timothy 6:20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
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4. Not Scholarship: the authority of academic learning and agreed upon knowledge (2 Timothy 3:7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
   See All...; Isaiah 29:9-12 [9] Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. [10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. [11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: [12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
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5. Not Experience: the authority of personal experience (Romans 10:2-3 [2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
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2. THE END OF THE TRUE GOSPEL
1. The Offer of Salvation
2. The Reception of Salvation
1. As an event (John 3:3-7 [3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
   See All...; John 5:24Verily, 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.
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2. Through the gospel (Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
   See All...; Romans 10:9-10 [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
   See All...; Ephesians 1:13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
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3. THE OTHER GOSPEL
1. The Same Elements: “Which is not another”
1. Accepts the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
2. Claims to come to Jesus by faith in Him
2. The Difference
1. Does not directly subtract from the gospel
2. Rather adds to the gospel
1. The problem of the Galatians (Galatians 3:1-3 [1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
   See All...; Galatians 4:4-11 [4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. [6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. [7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. [8] Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. [9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? [10] Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. [11] I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
   See All...; Galatians 6:12-13 [12] As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. [13] For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
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2. The teaching of the Judiazers (Acts 15:1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
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4. THE EVILS OF THE OTHER GOSPEL
1. A Message Accursed (Galatians 1:8-9 [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.
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2. Subtraction by Addition
1. By adding to the requirements for salvation, they deny the sufficiency of the gospel
2. Faith in the work of Christ becomes faith in their own works (Galatians 5:4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
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3. Works of Man Insufficient to Save
1. Works of the Law (Galatians 2:16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
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2. Works of Righteousness (Titus 3:5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
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4. Another Gospel Hides the True Gospel
1. Faith in works denies the work of Christ (Romans 4:4-5 [4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
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2. Man remains in his lost condition

CONCLUSION: Art Thou Born Again? – John Berridge (1716-1793) was well known as an evangelical English preacher. “His preaching had a ‘rustic homeliness.’ His main points were boldly underlined. Tall and thin in appearance, he had an iron constitution, but at the end he was alone, blind, and deaf. Yet, Berridge testified, ‘Lord, if I have thy presence and love, that sufficeth.’…

‘Here lie the earthly remains of John Berridge: Late Vicar of Everton, and an itinerant servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and His work, and after running on his errands many years was called to wait on Him above. Reader: Art thou born again? No Salvation without New Birth!’ ”