Another Gospel That Is Not Another
Paul’s epistle to the churches of Galatia (Galatians 1:2) is one of (if not his most) passionate letters. The believers there were being wooed to another gospel that was not the gospel of Christ that Paul had delivered unto them. The purity and simplicity of the true gospel was being jettisoned for a gospel not of grace but of works, not unto salvation but unto damnation. The eternal danger of this false gospel was met by Paul with scriptural denunciation wrapped in fervent exhortation for there was much at stake.
Paul had visited this region on his first missionary journey and planted the church there at that time. He visited them again on his second missionary journey and delivered unto them the confirmation of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) that circumcision was not essential to salvation. There had been those professing believers among the Jews that maintained it was necessary to keep the law, particularly being circumcised, to be saved. Now these false teachers had infiltrated the Galatian churches spreading their damnable lie, making the gospel of grace a gospel of works. He wrote “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another” (Galatians 1:6-7).
This false teaching, making circumcision a necessary part of salvation was “another” gospel, i.e., different than the gospel Paul had preached to them. The Greek word is heteros meaning different. The word translated as “another” the second time is the Greek word allos meaning “of the same kind”. It is the same word used by Christ when he promised his disciples concerning the Holy Spirit “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16; emphasis added).
Paul asserted that those who proclaim this false gospel “pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:7) and followed this testimony with the most vehement curse. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). This was no mild oath by Paul, but carried with it all the weight of his apostolic authority. To tamper with the one true gospel is to invite eternal damnation.
Paul’s warning then should be compelling to us today. There is only one gospel of Jesus Christ – he was crucified for our sins, buried, and rose again the third day. We are saved by trusting in him for the forgiveness of our sins. There is nothing we can add – baptism, church membership, charitable giving, even being the Rotary Club Man of the Year. We are saved only by grace and nothing else. Otherwise, it is not grace. Where is your hope? Have you been misled by “another gospel”?
Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.
Photo by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg).
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