An Audience of One

Galatians 1:1-10

There is something special about watching your child’s performances. Our daughter recently had a dance recital and it was clear that all she cared about was that it was us who saw her. She did her best, but her eyes were FIXED on us the whole time; she waved made faces and made sure we stayed focused on her. What mattered to her is that we saw her and she saw us. The same goes with God.

That’s an interesting question – whose approval do we seek? A true focus on the gospel is on Christ alone – the only part other people should play in your relationship with Jesus is that they aid and/or benefit from it. But the relationship is and should be only you and Him. Let’s examine this rule of 1:

One Paul

One thing that’s bothered me about post-modern culture: choosing to crowd-source knowledge instead of trusting in experts. Wikipedia is ok for the most part, but trusting in the masses to give good advice only goes so far; experts still confirm or change what the masses misunderstand. While word of mouth marketing (the masses holding influence) works great, sometimes you have to trust the experts. Choosing not to give the usual greetings, blessings, and compliments, Paul starts off immediately with a bold statement about his own authority as the author of the letter. He didn’t gain authority from man, but from God, and God is the only one he answers to. With his experience on the Damascus Road, Paul is counted as directly appointed by God through Christ as an apostle with authority, not to mention the support from other apostles. As a leader in the church, Paul knows his responsibility comes from God and is accountable to God. There is no messing with the message. The truth of the gospel did not come from man and is not beholden to man’s whims but came through Christ (1 Tim 2:5). God has communicated with Paul, giving a message of hope and salvation. He wanted his readers to instantly recognize Paul as the author and authority, thus giving him an open platform to deliver this truth bomb about the real gospel. Here’s a hint: just like Ray’s Pizza in New York, though they all call themselves original, there is only one real, true, original gospel, which was given to them by the only and original Paul. He is the expert and should be taken seriously.

One Gospel

That message is that there is only 1 gospel. Take it or leave it; it’s not up for debate or editing. This is it – God created us to be in relationship with us, designing is un purity and perfection in the image of God, yet all humans are sinners (Romans 3:23) thanks to Adam and Eve’s original choice, because of our sin we cannot be in the presence of God, but God loved us enough to come to earth and pay the penalty for us in Christ Jesus (John 3:16). We need only to trust in the forgiveness offered through Jesus’ death and resurrection to be made right with God. The Judaizers (members of the circumcision party) were trying to change the gospel to include a conversion to Judaism—observance of all Jewish laws and traditions—before committing to Christ. This is the different gospel Paul rails against in v6-9. They took the beauty and simplicity of God’s rescue and added rules, regulations, and expectations. The Judaizers may have been the first to add to the gospel, but many have tried sense. The Gnostics added the denial of all things material (matter); the Roman Catholics added things (penance, Mary, the Eucharist). Protestant evangelicals have added money, wardrobe, societal connections and other things as well. The true gospel has never changed – Christ and Christ crucified (John 11:25-26). Nothing else. It is faith and faith alone – not faith and putting your name on the education wing of the church. Not faith and traditions.

One Audience Member (God)

Why does that matter? When we change the gospel, adding rules or expectations, we are making faith about us, directed to us. Paul rounds out this harsh introduction in v10 getting to the root of the problem with those who add to the gospel, those he was calling accursed: its not about us. This is God’s gospel, His offer, His gift to give. If we are changing the gospel it shows we are seeking attention or approval from other people, not God. But He is the only audience member; He is the only one watching that matters (Matt. 10:28). The circumcision party was not doing this for God, but for their history, their traditions, their desires. Who are you performing for? Who are you looking for? It’s similar to couples that struggle after the kids leave. Was the marriage about them or the kids? It should be about the couple with the kids benefitting from that, not the other way around. We accept the gospel to be in the presence of God – to be seen by Him and known by Him. We don’t need to change it. He is enough.

Next Steps

The power of the gospel is that it connects us and Jesus. It’s a relationship that isn’t about other people, even though it benefits others. Other people should only aid and/or benefit from it. It’s only us and Him. Consider how you can make it more about Him this week.

1. Take scripture seriously. Ignoring scripture doesn’t change it, only makes us look like fools.
2. Examine your heart to the gospel. What have you added or removed? Maybe for yourself or someone else? Challenge expectations we hold.
3. Ask yourself why you’re a believer. Is it for Him? Or for your optics?

Who are you doing this for? Seek Him and Him alone this week. Let everything else come to you from God.