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“What Makes A Gospel Sermon A Gospel Sermon?”

October 17th, 2004

“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. 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.”

(Galatians 1:6-9, English Standard Version)

 

The children’s book, “What Makes A Raphael A Raphael?” is an attempt to explain art. We happen to think this is an excellent question. We ask in this article, “What makes a gospel sermon a gospel sermon?”

In Galatians 1:6-9, the apostle Paul presents a scathing criticism against misrepresenting the gospel. Four points arise from within the biblical text:

1. It is possible to distort the gospel message (1:7).
2. Distortions may be detected by a departure from the New Testament (1:6,7).
3. The gospel is not to be changed, by apostles, angels, nor men (1:8,9).
4. Preaching “a different gospel” gets an accursed rating (1:8,9).

We might point out that Raphael was a painter, not a preacher. Attempting to understand Raphael is one thing, and believing the gospel is very much another matter. Psalm 119:89 reads, “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” The gospel is a settled matter. It was settled when Paul wrote Galatians; it is settled today, and will abide tomorrow and forever (1 Peter 1:25). Is this your faith?

– Robert M. Housby

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