Truths That The Galatians Were Offended By

Galatians 4:16 – Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Introduction

Title: “Truths That The Galatians Were Offended By”

Preacher: Dr. Terry LeQuieu

Today we begin a measured walk through the book of Galatians, focusing on six truths — one from each chapter — that offended the early Galatian churches. These are not merely ancient disputes; they are living, breathing warnings and lessons for us today. Paul’s rebukes are direct because lives and souls are at stake. If we follow his example, we will prioritize the Word of God over opinions, popular comforts, and cultural convenience.

Quote from Preacher

Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

Outline

Offended by the Gospel
1. Text and context: Galatians 1:6–9 — Paul expresses astonishment that they would abandon the true gospel for a perverted message. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.”
2. What is the Gospel? The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:1–4). It is singular, exclusive, and life-changing. There is one way to the Father — Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
3. How the Galatians erred: After Paul left, other teachers introduced a different approach — a gospel that added human works, customs, or easier living to the message of salvation. This made salvation seem more palatable but less powerful.
4. Practical application: Examine any teaching against Scripture. If a message eases the call to repentance or adds human rites as necessary to justification, it is not the gospel Paul preached.
Offended by Godliness and Godly Living
1. Text and context: Galatians 2:11–21 — Paul confronts Peter for hypocrisy. Peter ate with Gentile believers until certain Jewish visitors arrived, and then withdrew from fellowship. Paul rebuked him publicly for compulsion to legalism and inconsistent living.
2. Core truth: True justification by faith produces changed living. Paul’s doctrine of “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20) teaches that salvation effects sanctification.
3. Why this offends: Worldly people (and self-justifying Christians) resent clear standards of holiness because godliness often requires personal sacrifice and separation from sinful practices.
4. Practical application: Christians must be consistent. You cannot live like the world and call the world to live like Christians. Let your life validate your doctrine — be careful that your behavior does not become a stumbling block to others (1 Corinthians 8:9).
Offended by Truths About Themselves
1. Text and context: Galatians 3:1 — “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?” Paul confronts their regression and calls out the deception that led them away from obedience.
2. Core truth: The hardest truths are often those about our own hearts: stubbornness, hypocrisy, pride, or compromise. Paul calls them to honest self-examination and obedience to the plain teaching of Scripture.
3. Why this offends: Being told we are wrong or that we need change is painful. Our culture prizes feelings and self-justification, but the Bible calls for repentance and godly transformation.
4. Practical application: Receive correction humbly. Test what you hear by Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21 — “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good”). Allow God to rework the clay; do not harden your heart because of a wound the Lord intends for your growth.
Offended by Preaching that is Not Palatable
1. Text and context: Revelation 10:8–11 and Psalm 119 — John eats the little book: sweet in the mouth but bitter in the belly. Scripture delights but its application often brings pain.
2. Core truth: The Word is sweet to receive but sometimes bitter to apply. Real repentance and obedience may cost relationships, comforts, or reputation.
3. Why this offends: Many prefer meat that is softened or sermonizing that flatters. Preaching that exposes sin and calls for real change offends natural flesh.
4. Practical application: Expect discomfort when the Word changes you. Do not abandon the preacher or the church because the remedy stings — the wound of conviction is a path to healing if you allow it.
Offended by Separation and Standards
1. Text and context: Galatians 2:15–21 and 1 Corinthians 5; Galatians stresses that being in Christ changes how we live, and Scripture calls for separation from persistent sin and from practices that dishonor God.
2. Core truth: Standards and separation are not legalism when they arise from Scripture; they are expressions of a life transformed by grace. Paul argues that “if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” But true grace produces holy living.
3. Why this offends: People like easy, comfortable Christianity — “Buffet” faiths where you pick what suits you. Biblical standards demand obedience, restraint, and often public witness that will displease some.
4. Practical application: Adopt godly standards to protect faith (2 Peter 1:5–10). Build spiritual habits (prayer, Bible study, confession, accountability) that produce fruit and remove opportunities for compromise.
Offended by the Call to Prove All Things
1. Text and context: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 is used to summon believers to rejoice, pray, be thankful, and “prove all things.” Dr. LeQuieu connects Galatian rebuke with the ongoing duty of testing teaching by Scripture.
2. Core truth: We are commanded to be Berean in spirit — not gullible or merely emotional. Testing preaching and doctrine by Scripture is faithful, not skeptical to the point of unbelief.
3. Why this offends: Some resent being tested. Others want charismatic or sensational messages more than sober, biblical truth. But Scripture must be the standard, not personality, culture, or convenience.
4. Practical application: Become a student of the Bible. When you hear a sermon you find difficult or surprising, take notes, study the passages, research cross-references, and compare Scripture with Scripture. Be anchored in the Word so you will not drift.

Note: Dr. LeQuieu indicated there are three more truths to be developed in a follow-up message. The six points here represent the emphases covered in Part One: the Gospel, godliness, and personal conviction, plus the attitudes and practices that either protect or destroy spiritual health.

Summary

Paul’s confrontation of the Galatian churches shows us that truth will sometimes wound because it exposes sin, corrects error, and demands change. The Galatians were offended by: (1) a corrupted gospel, (2) calls to grow in godliness, (3) truths about their own condition, (4) hard preaching whose application is bitter, (5) separation and biblical standards, and (6) the necessity to prove all things by Scripture. The offense often arises from a preference for opinion, comfort, or popularity over God’s revealed Word.

Quote to Ponder

Listen, there are going to be some brothers and sisters in Christ. They are going to live one way here at church and live completely different out there in the world.

Application for the Week

Practical, actionable steps you can take this week to respond to the truths taught:

Examine the gospel you preach and receive.
1. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 and Galatians 1:6–9. Write down in one paragraph what the gospel is and why it alone saves.
Test church teaching by Scripture.
1. Choose one sermon from this week (or last Sunday). Read the verses used and compare them with cross references. Ask: “Does this teaching require repentance? Does it require Christ alone?”
Invite one accountability conversation.
1. Ask a mature believer to evaluate one area of your life where you may be compromising (music, entertainment, modesty, habits). Receive correction with humility and set a biblical, measurable goal.
Practice godly consistency.
1. Pick one visible habit (speech, social media, dressing, time management) and align it with Scripture this week. Keep a short journal of temptations and victories.
Make personal study a priority.
1. Spend 15–30 minutes daily in a Scripture reading plan. When a passage convicts or is hard to apply, write a short prayer asking God for willingness to change and one practical step you will take.
Respond to conviction, don’t recoil.
1. If something in this message pricked your heart, go to the altar or ask a pastor or elder to pray with you this week. Don’t allow a single offense to keep you from the potter’s shaping work.

May we be a people who prefer the Word of God above our opinions and comforts. Let the gospel sanctify you; let godliness mark you; let honest truth correct you. If the Lord has spoken to your heart this morning, act on it — remember Paul’s question: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” May your answer be a life reformed by Scripture, not a heart hardened by offense.