Bulls-Eye Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Bulls-Eye------------------------------------- Date: 4/2/2002 Keywords: "Gospel" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. We continue the series we began yesterday in the New Testament book of Galatians, the "Magna Carta of Christianity." Paul’s goal for the Christians who reads this letter is that they find freedom in Christ. May God use these studies to bring you freedom from the grip of porn and freedom to love and serve, all to the glory of God! Passage: Galatians 1:6-10* 6. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7. which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. 10. For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. Question 1. What is Paul’s theme in these verses?   2. On a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high), how would you rate Paul’s passion for the truth of the Gospel in these verses?   Practical help The least deviation from the true course at the outset of a journey will ensure an ever worsening situation as the journey continues. A man firing a rifle at a bull’s-eye from 25 yards has some room for error that the man firing from 50 yards doesn’t. It is easier to make a basket from 5 feet than from 25 feet. So also, errors in understanding the simple message of the Gospel may not show up in the first days or weeks of a Christian’s journey with Jesus. But if there is any deviation from the truth of the Christian message, it will eventually show up. Practical problems will crop up for the person who has not grasped the Gospel’s essential message. So, to review: The Gospel says that Jesus Christ died for our sins and that he arose from the dead. There. That’s it. That’s the Gospel (see the first several verses of 1 Corinthians 15). What must a person do with the Gospel to be saved by it? In one word — believe. Trust. Rely on Jesus’ death and resurrection to provide for your salvation. To clarify: • Being saved demands that you agree that it was your sins that made it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross. • Being saved demands that you trust as fully in His miraculous resurrection from the dead as you do in His crucifixion. • Being saved demands that you agree that Jesus is the Lord. Who else but a Sovereign Lord would be able to provide for your salvation? • Being saved by Jesus has nothing to do with your good works. It has everything to do with Jesus’ good work. • Being saved by Jesus has nothing to do with your giving something to God. It has everything to do with God giving you the gift of eternal life. A clear understanding of the Gospel is the starting point in the Christian life, guaranteeing future victories. If "the hater of your soul" (Satan) can trip you up on the basics, he’ll be sure to gain victory in the long run. Tune in tomorrow, as we continue to learn how the Christian life "works" from Galatians. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---