Galatians 1:6-9: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

OBSERVATION:  Am I proclaiming “another gospel”?  This is a serious question I must ask myself.  It is such a serious question that Paul speaks in the boldest of terms when he addresses it to the Galatians.  Paul warns them, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Paul saw the purity of the gospel as a matter of eternal significance.

What was Paul addressing?  What was the “other gospel”?  It is important to understand why Paul spoke so strongly against it.  The true Gospel was the message of salvation by grace – without works!  Paul had proclaimed this message to the Galatians and they had received it gladly.  Yet, immediately some Jewish believers came and challenged this message.  They said that Paul’s gospel was fine but they also needed to obey the Mosaic Law to be saved.  Their gospel was,

Jesus + my works = Salvation.

Why is this message so insidious?  Why does the enemy of our souls try to plant these tares in the life of the church?  The enemy knows that there is no way one can be saved but by trusting in Christ alone.  If he can get us to trust in something else he can create a false security in our life and keep us from the cross of Christ.  If we trust in our works, whatever they may be, we are no longer trusting in the completed work of Jesus Christ.  Only Jesus can save us. 

Trusting in our works will only keep us from Christ.

Paul tells us that Satan’s messengers do not come to us and reveal their hideous nature.  They come to us as angels of light.  Could Paul be insinuating that the angels from heaven are these false teachers?  Their messages sound so intriguing,  The message of the cross is offensive to those who want to take some credit for their standing before God.  When someone appeals to their flesh they quickly embrace this false message of hope.  Why?  Something in our human nature wants to think we are better than we really are.  The true gospel reveals we are lost sinners in need of a Savior.  The false gospel tells us that we are among those who are a cut above everyone else.  One message leads to the cross, the other to a podium of self-praise and adulation.

J. Vernon McGee writes in his commentary on the book of Galatians,

“By nature man responds to legalism. He thinks he doesn’t need a Savior. All he needs is a helper. Oh, my friend, we are sinking for the third time! We need somebody to save us. Those who preach law are popular. Not long ago I listened to a local Southern California preacher on television. From a technical and professional standpoint, he has one of the finest programs. In his message, he talked about Jesus coming into the world. He spoke of Christ’s death and resurrection. But he failed to mention that the people to whom he was speaking were sinners and needed a Savior. He neglected to inform his audience that Jesus died for them and they needed to trust Him to be saved. Rather, he talked about commitment. He invited folk to commit their lives to Christ. Let us be honest, friend. Christ does not want your old life and He does not want mine. We have nothing to commit to Him. He wants to do something through us today. Oh, if only we could learn that!”

There is a fine line to walk in preaching the gospel and teaching the principles of the Christian life.  The gospel alone brings us to Christ.  We must come to Christ emptied of ourselves and without one plea.  We are guilty sinners deserving eternal punishment.  There is nothing of our old life that God desires or needs.  We must lay down this old broken sinful life at the foot of the cross.  We must trust fully in Christ alone for our salvation.  We must embrace His grace with empty and open arms. 

We bring nothing to the cross and He brings everything to our repentant heart, by grace through faith.

Learning the principles of the Christian life is not a means of gaining our salvation or even the favor of God.  God cannot love us any more than He did when Jesus hung on the cross for our sins.  We cannot earn, deserve, or manipulate His love by anything we do.  We desire to walk in the truth of the Word, not because it earns God’s approval or love, but because we love Him.  Jesus did not say – “If you want to be my disciples then do the following!”  NO!  Jesus said,

“If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples who were saved by grace through faith.  He speaks these words to us who have trusted in His completed work on the cross of Calvary.  We do not have to do something to earn His favor and love.  Rather, we show our love and appreciation by allowing Him to live in and through us.  We do not initiate our obedience.  We respond to the working of His grace in us with obedience.  This is why Paul proclaimed – “…It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives through me!”  J. Vernon McGee goes on to say in his commentary on Galatians,

“God is not even asking you to live the Christian life. In fact, you cannot live it. God is asking that He might live the Christian life through you. The Epistle to the Galatians teaches this. But first of all, we must come to Christ as sinners and be saved. Our churches are filled today with people who are not saved. Do you know why? They have never come to Christ and received Him as Savior. They feel like they have something to commit to Him. You have nothing to commit to Him, my friend. He wants to commit something to you. He is the One who died, and He is on the giving end. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23). It is just as simple as that. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? This is the important thing.”

As I think about these things I realize that I have been guilty of approaching God with my works to win His love and approval.  I am a sinner saved by grace alone.  I brought nothing to the cross and I carried nothing away from the cross except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  My hope, future, and present standing before God is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  God loves me no more and no less because of what I do.  My obedience to Him must be based on love not on trying to win His love and approval.  God’s blessings in my life are not earned but freely given.  When I empty myself and stand before Him with nothing, when I trust in but Christ alone, I position my heart and life to receive His blessings by grace through faith.  I am not blessed because of what I do…

I AM BLESSED SOLELY BY TRUSTING IN CHRIST ALONE!

Lord, I have been guilty of listening to another gospel.  I have been guilty of believing another gospel.  Lord, forgive me and help me understand that I can do nothing to earn Your gift of salvation and I can do nothing to deserve Your love.  Yet – You love me!  You save me!  You pour out Your blessings upon me!  As I trust in Christ alone the riches of Christ begin to transform me in a way that I never could do in my strength. 

Lord, teach me to trust in Christ alone!

Lord, teach me how to live in the power of Your great grace!

In Jesus’ Name!