Galatians – No Other Gospel

We continue in our Galatians study.  We had looked at the background and Paul’s greeting with his emphasis on him being an Apostle sent by God.  

Galatians 1:6-10 “I (Paul) am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in 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 them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Paul wastes no time in pleasantries, with directness he gets to the matter in issue – a false gospel. The different gospel in question here is one that the Judaisers were spreading. It is interesting to note that although Paul refers to this gospel as a different gospel, it was not a complete shift to what Paul was teaching. The Judaisers did not remove Jesus out of the equation, they added something to it. They were not opposed to talking about Jesus, or the Lord’s work on the cross, but implied that it is not enough.

For us: What Paul battled in that day, we battle too, it is worthwhile to note that often false teaching is not presented in a completely new package, but rather in a slightly different one. This makes false teaching that much harder to identify. As followers of Christ, it is imperative that we read and study the word, such that we recognise when something does not align with God’s word. And with prayer, ask the Lord for discernment, guidance and protection with all that we can be exposed to.  

As we talk about false teaching, it is important that we go back to basics as Paul did in his letter.

What is the Gospel – It is the message that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins when He gave His life on the cross so that we can be made righteous through faith. We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.

What were the Judaisers teaching – They were insisting on elevating the following of the law alongside Christ’s work on the cross, such that only then it would be sufficient to save.

When Jesus was on the cross, the final words he uttered was “It is finished” “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30). The work necessary for our salvation is complete. It is done.

Note that when Paul talks about this false teaching, he refers to it as perverting the gospel. The Greek word for pervert can be translated to ‘turn around’. A perverted gospel is one that turns our focus away from Jesus and His work.

Why did God give the Law? – It is necessary to look into why the law was given, as over time, the Jews began to hold the law as a pathway to be made right with God.

Romans 3:20 says, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”

God’s law served as a bedrock of guiding ideals to help His people understand His righteousness, their sinful condition and the need they have for Him to be made right with Him. The Law in itself could not and did not save.

Besides the law, the Pharisees over time included a multitude of rules surrounding each law as a hedge for man to follow a particular law. Although it seemed to be implemented with the intention to enable man to keep the law, what it eventually ended up being was a legalistic approach to righteous living. For example: On the Sabbath, it was unlawful to work, a rule added by the Pharisees was that only a certain distance could be walked on that day to not breach the law. Another example, a scribe could not carry his writing materials on the day as that would mean he was carrying his work tools, as on the sabbath no work was meant to be done.

Salvation is by grace through faith. Satan is a master deceiver; his intentions is to twist the truth and mislead people, ultimately drawing their focus and worship away from Jesus. With a works-based approach to be made right with God, it minimizes what Jesus did and elevates the works of man.

Paul cautions the Galatians to focus and pay attention to the message over the messenger; if anyone, including an angel or even him were to preach something different, it is to be considered a false gospel. This applies to us too, however compelling someone may seem, all that they say is to be tested against scripture.

And those who teach falsely, their end is certain- eternal condemnation.

Jesus says in Mathew 18:6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Paul accentuates his caution by highlighting his motives which was serving Christ and not pleasing people, a valuable reminder for each one of us today too no matter what area of service we find our calling in.

For us: What are the ways we can ensure that the gospel we believe and share is the true gospel?

What are some ways we might impose certain rules on ourselves or others that we think is required to be the kind of Christians we need to be?

Prayer: Lord, may we remain alert to false teachers and their teaching. May we immerse ourselves in your word that we waste no time in entertaining such teachings. Guard our hearts and minds, Lord. Amen.

God Bless.