THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

JUNE 12TH, 2005

GALATIANS 5:7-12

DANGEROUS FALSE TEACHERS

 

 

I.     False teachers hinder the local church   (7).

 

     A.     Paul compares the Galatian congregations to runners in a race.

 

          1.     The “did run well” (past tense).

          2.     As Paul compares their present race with their past race he sees a big difference.

 

     B.     “...who did hinder you?”

 

          1.     Notice that Paul assumes that a PERSON is a problem, not a thing or an event.

          2.     Usually, behind our coldness towards God, is a PERSON who hindered us.

                    -     see Proverbs 25:19.

 

     C.     “...that ye should not obey the truth.” (7)

 

          1.      They have turned from a life of faith to a life of works.

          2.     A person (false teacher) has persuaded them to follow a false way over the true way.

          3.     Notice that Paul places the blame on the members, not the teachers.

 

II.     The power of persuasion is a great weapon in the hands of a false teacher (8).

 

     A.     The congregations of Galatia have been  “persuaded” from a source other than God.

 

     B.     It is God “that calleth you”, but it is a false teacher that they hear.

 

     C.     We must always remember that much of the conversations we hear can persuade us away from God.

 

III.     A famous verse: “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”  (9)

 

     A.     Leaven spreads until the whole loaf is affected.

 

          1.     False doctrine is like leaven, and your mind, (or the local church), is the loaf.

          2.     It only takes a little leaven to leaven the whole lump; so a church cannot allow a little false doctrine to “persuade” the congregation.

          3.     Identifying the leaven is the key, and the light of identification is God’s Word.

                    -     see Psalm 119:105

 

IV.     Paul has not given up hope that the Galatians will turn around  (10).

 

     A.     “I have confidence in you.....”

               -     This confidence is based on their profession that the3y are “in the Lord.”

 

     B.     “...that ye will be none otherwise minded.”

               -     Paul’s confidence is that they will do an about-face, and not be fooled by these false teachers.

 

     C.     “...he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment.”

              -     False teachers will be judged for their false doctrines, and deserve be.

 

     D.     “...whosoever he be.”

          1.     This shows that Paul did not know the false teacher personally.

          2.     It’s not so much the teacher, but his teaching, that needs to be examined.

 

V.     Paul gives the example of himself: What if Paul preached circumcision as the false  teachers taught?

 

     A.     Why would I yet suffer persecution?

               -     The easy way out is to tolerate false doctrine.

 

     B.     The “offence of the cross” would cease if a works based salvation was accepted (11).

 

Conclusion: Paul wishes that the false teachers will be “cut off.”

 

          False teachers are not to be tolerated.