Yesterday we saw that Paul introduced himself to the Galatians as an emissary ... from God. That would be extremely arrogant if it wasn't true. But ... it was absolutely true. This emissary -- this Apostle with a capital "A" -- told them of the gospel -- that Jesus gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from evil, and that this reality was for God's glory (Gal 1:1-5).
What was God's emissary most concerned about? Why is he even writing this letter? There were Galatian believers ... who were deserting Christ (Gal 1:6). How? They were going with "a different gospel" (Gal 1:6). He explains, in fact that it "is really not another." So this "different gospel" was not a gospel at all. It was only masquerading as one. It was a distortion (Gal 1:7). It sounded "gospely" but it wasn't an actual gospel. They were buying something other than the good news that Christ gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil world. Paul said that if any one, including himself or an angel from heaven, offered a different gospel, they were to be "accursed" (Gal 1:8-9). Excommunicated, banned, kicked out, anathema.
Of course, distortions of the gospel still abound. The pharisaical early church taught a "saved by Jewish law" version ... not another gospel. Going with the whole "angel from heaven thing," Joseph Smith distorted the gospel of saved by grace through faith and made it a works-based falsehood ... not another gospel. We have those who say Jesus didn't die for our sin and those who say that we didn't even need saving ... not another gospel. We have the social gospel that says we're saved to a better earthly existence ... not another gospel. "We're good enough" or "We're not that bad" or "You just have to work hard enough" or "No one has to do anything at all" are popular versions of "another gospel" which are not other gospels at all. "Other gospels" abound, and Scripture demands that they be excised, removed, eliminated. Check your "other gospel" at the door and don't pick it up when you leave.
The ones that blow my mind are the "Christian" pastors that teach that you are just as you were meant to be and don't need salvation. I want to tell at them, "What are you even doing as a pastor then?"
ReplyDeleteStan, I'm so proud of you. You've gotten top billion at the cesspool and had everything in this post thoroughly refuted, with massive scriptural support.
ReplyDeleteLuckily I don't know where to find the cesspool. (And, no, don't tell me.)
DeleteProbably a good choice. His use of "Because I say so." as the reason why everyone else is wrong is masterful. His insistence that there are only "TWO" instances where Jesus says anything that is close to The Gospel articulated by Paul, as a reason for Paul being wrong, is simply mind blowing.
DeleteIf forced to choose between Paul and Dan, it'd be a tough choice, but Paul by a hair.
“Check your ‘other gospel’ at the door and don't pick it up when you leave.” Such important instruction, with eternal consequences! I am forever grateful that the Lord led me to abandon a false, works-based “religious” gospel when He called me to Himself many years ago. Exchanging legalism for grace is life-changing.
ReplyDeleteYou are right that “other gospels” abound and ensnare many; false teachers are everywhere, as are misguided “Christians”--i.e. tares invading the true Church of Jesus Christ. Often it is a case of “I’m right and you’re wrong!” “No, I’m right and you’re wrong!” I am mindful that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is mandatory in order to know truth and receive the true Gospel. So many people will talk and debate and write and post relentlessly but possess nothing of value to share--only empty falsehoods that do not come from the Spirit of God but the father of lies. This is as unfortunate for the speaker as for the listener.