Tag: Galatians 1
The One true Gospel!
Scripture reading for August 15: Galatians 1
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him Who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–not there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-10
Paul was called to plant churches among the Gentiles and on his first missionary journey had planted the church in Galatia. Paul was now writing to the believers there to correct their world view and refocus them on the Gospel of Jesus Christ that he had originally preached to them and by which they had been saved. False teachers were adding to the true Gospel message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. These false teachers were perverting the true Gospel message with the addition of the Jewish laws and traditions. These teachings had found some acceptance and some were leaving the church to follow the lies from these false teachers.
Paul stated plainly that there was only one true Gospel of Jesus Christ. That Gospel message called sinners to repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Son of God, through His body and blood. As people repented and believed, God by grace declared them righteous and gifted them His Holy Spirit. Anyone preaching a different ‘gospel’ was actually under a curse. Paul could have tried to please men and overlooked the false teaching or said it didn’t matter. But Paul was not called to appease men but to please God through obedient faith. He was a true servant of Christ and not a false teacher! He had received His Gospel from Jesus Christ Himself. It wasn’t from man or man’s idea.
In our culture of many churches, voices, and philosophies of religion, how do you know which is the one true ‘Gospel’? Have you ever followed a church or church leader who actually led you astray away from the true Gospel? Are you confident today that you have believed the true Gospel and are truly saved?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending me true Christ-followers who faithfully represented the true Gospel of salvation by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, Your Son. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and a hunger for Truth so that I might walk in holy discernment and preach the true Gospel to all! Amen.
Avoid ‘eternal condemnation’!
Scripture reading for August 16th: Galatians 1
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Galatians 1:6-8 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”
The true gospel of salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone is very simple and humbling. This gospel makes no room for boasting in what any man has done or in any special knowledge or angelic revelation. This true gospel requires repentance–turning from sin and religious works and placing faith in what God has already done through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. The Galatian church was founded on this true gospel, but some were following false teachers who were perverting the gospel. Paul was emphatic that those who pervert the gospel and those who followed them would be “eternally condemned.”
Observation for over-comers: Over-comers become grounded in the true gospel and are alert for those who try and pervert it. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 16:25)
No perverted Gospel!
Scripture reading for August 17th: Galatians 1
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:6-8)
Galatians is thought the first letter written by the Apostle Paul. He wrote this letter to “churches in Galatia” in order to clarify the gospel message he first delivered to them. His clear gospel message that had brought them salvation was being ‘perverted’ by Jewish false teachers who claimed to be saved by faith in Christ, but wanted to add the keeping of Jewish law as a requirement for being a Christian. This teaching was pleasing to the Jews who had become Christians and was part of the motivation behind it. It seemed like a good idea in that the Jewish believers could continue to observe the law and would not suffer persecution from their family or nation.
Paul opened this letter with a strong statement about anyone who would pervert the gospel: “let him be eternally condemned!” A false gospel cannot save! Teaching a false gospel sends those who follow it to eternal condemnation! Adding the keeping of the law and circumcision would bring condemnation of failure and nullify the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation by God’s grace!
We must guard the gospel message carefully, for in it is the power of God for salvation! (Romans 1:16) Be on guard against a ‘perverted gospel’! It is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone that we are saved!