Sermon Snippet – God Forbid
INTRODUCTION – Last week, we closed the message with Galatians 6:14: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” The expression “God forbid” is an absolute statement of impossibility; in the original Greek, there is no stronger way of stating it. If the Word of God employs this wording, we need to pay close attention; we are to hear and heed.
1. WE MUST NOT ALTER THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, GOD THE SON
Galatians is likely the first epistle that Paul wrote. Even at this early stage in the history of the Church, people were abandoning the principle of God’s grace and trying to earn eternal life through their own works. Paul especially refutes a group called the Judaizers, who erroneously taught that keeping the Old Testament Law, along with faith in Jesus, was essential for salvation. Paul sternly rejects that teaching in Galatians 1:6-9 and then tackles it throughout this book. In Galatians 2:15-21, he uses “God forbid” (verse 17) to indicate the impossibility of adding to God’s grace. His argument is detailed and devastating. He points out that the Judaizers were attempting the impossible – making “Christ the minister of sin” – because He clearly taught that keeping the Law did not save (for example, Matthew 5:20 – “For I say unto you, ‘That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven’”). The Judaizers, like all legalists, rejected grace alone, asserting that people would thus sin as much as they wanted to. Paul insists on grace alone (Ephesians 2:1-10), understanding the difference between salvation and experiential sanctification and understanding the perfect character of God. Today, cults, in general, add to the Bible, subtract from the Trinity, multiply legalistic rules, and divide people from their hard-earned money – all to the nth degree. For those not captured by cults, a common personal heresy is the simple statement, “I’m a good person.” Both groups of people falsely believe that mankind can become good enough or is already good enough. Such self-made religion is doomed to failure. “God forbid” that we ever try to make “Christ the minister of sin.”
2. GOD CANNOT BREAK HIS PROMISES
In Galatians 3:21, Paul anticipates an assertion of the Judaizers: “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” Since God gave both the Old Testament Law and all of His promises (including, in the context, those to Abraham, given centuries before the giving of the Law to Moses), they cannot be in opposition to each other, for God cannot labor against Himself. There was nothing wrong with the Law – only with us. There is nothing wrong with any of His promises, either, including the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus. “God forbid” that we should suggest that God can deny Himself and break His promises.
CONCLUSION – Let us briefly return to Galatians 6:14. We now have a better understanding of why Paul was so frank and forthright in his refutation of the heretics called Judaizers. Furthermore, Paul, an accomplished man, refused to let pride ensnare him. He would “glory” only in His Savior and His saving work on the Cross. “God forbid” that we should reject the only means of eternal salvation. “God forbid” also that we seek to draw the attention of this evil world.