Twenty-One Life-Altering Reasons Why the Gospel Changes Everything [from Gal. 1:1-5]

Gal. 1:1 Paul, an apostle-- not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-- 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The following is a list gave in the opening sermon of a series through Galatians. The aim of this was to show that the Gospel-far wider and deeper than we often consider it is-is the central and most important of the Bible:

1. Paul, an apostle-- not from men nor through man but through Jesus The Gospel means that God has spoken. He has a message for us and has appointed messengers to deliver that message
2. Jesus Christ The Gospel means that the OT finds its meaning and fulfillment in the NT. Jesus Christ is Israel’s Messiah thus fulfilling OT Scripture.
3. Jesus Christ and God the Father The Gospel means that the triune God saves. God has fully revealed His true nature as a Triune being in and through the message of the Gospel.
4. who raised him from the dead The Gospel means that Easter matters. The Resurrection has changed everything.
5. and all the brothers who are with me The Gospel means that the Son has left behind a family.
6. To the churches of Galatia The Gospel means that churches are intentional creations and witnesses to the Gospel in the world.
7. Grace to you and peace from God The Gospel means that we can know real grace and peace from God and we can share it with others.
8. Jesus Christ, who gave himself The Gospel means that Christ willingly and voluntarily came.
9. Jesus Christ, who gave himself The Gospel means that Christmas matters. Christ the God-Man was incarnated. Christ personally showed up.
10. for our sins The Gospel means that on the cross God died for His enemies.
11. for our sins The Gospel means that on the cross God died to satisfy the wrath of God against sin.
12. Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins The Gospel means that Jesus is the second Adam and has established a new humanity.
13. to deliver us The Gospel means that His death was purposeful and planned.
14. to deliver us The Gospel means that our sin had doomed us all and we needed rescue. 
15. to deliver us The Gospel means that we could not save ourselves. What was needed to accomplish our salvation required no contribution on our part (monergistic not synergistic). 
16. to deliver us from the present evil age The Gospel means that God hasn’t changed the world yet, but that change coming.
17. to deliver us from the present evil age The Gospel means that sanctification is the outcome of justification – not the other way around. In other words, He saved us in order to change us. Whereas religion demands you change yourself enough in order to be saved.
18. according to the will of our God The Gospel means that God’s ultimate motivation is found in His will and desires – not ours.
19. our God and Father The Gospel means that God desires a Fatherly relationship with those whom He has saved.
20. to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. The Gospel means that God saved us ultimately to further His own glory – not ours.
21. to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. The Gospel means that worship is the natural and proper response to knowing and experiencing its truth.