I marvel that you are so soon removed
from Him that called you into the grace of Christ,
to Another Gospel.
... but there be some that trouble you,
and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel to you
than that which we have preached to you,
let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again,
if any man preach any other gospel to you
than that you have received,
let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9
Here is the problem we face today: Religions have corrupted the Truth of God.
Thousands of religions and denominations are teaching Another Gospel.
Have you been misguided by Religions created by men; or is your belief system centered in the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Paul confronted this problem nineteen hundred years ago, and the deception has now grown to thousands of potentially false religions and hundreds of deceptive denominations. These other gospels keep followers busy following man-made rules, rites, rituals, and false teachings. But the Truth, according to the Gospel of Christ is that men can do NOTHING in order to be worthy of salvation, and eternal life. It is the free gift of God: “that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
These teachers of another gospel were challenging the truth of Paul’s teaching and so first, he clarifies his apostleship to the gentiles, and points out that he was called directly by Jesus Christ; transformed by the renewing of his mind; and then sent out by Christ to proclaim the gospel. This was his ministry to the lost gentiles. Paul had a divine appointment and was not merely a teacher appointed by men, and he was not stating his personal opinions. Christ was speaking through Him. Paul was carrying out the mission Christ had given him.
Paul then explains in verses 6-9 that men were preaching another gospel and he made it clear that if any man was preaching a gospel contrary to salvation by grace alone … let him be accursed. This false teaching was a step backwards into the false teaching that Christ has delivered us from; and even some of the church leaders including Peter were being influenced.
For emphasis, Paul repeats: let him be accursed. The Greek word anathema used here for accursed means: estrangement from Christ and His salvation, and being given over to a divine condemnation. To take the stand Paul took back then would be like standing up in church and telling those who are perverting the Truth of Christianity: you are anti-Christ; or you are teaching doctrines of demons. Can you imagine the reaction a Christian would get in response to those words today?
So much for the left's call for tolerance and political correctness.
Now can you understand why those promoting another gospel in today's world ...
would also be so totally devoted to the doctrines of tolerance and political correctness?
We should always be respectful and loving to others and support everyone's right to freedom of religion ... but all religions are not truth, and are surely not equal, and false Christianity absolutely deserves: NO RESPECT or tolerance.
Don’t be confused here though. Once a person believes on the name of the Son of God, he may "know" that he has eternal life. This salvation is past tense. The danger is for someone to believe on the gospel of Christ … and then add any other conditions. "and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Galatians 2:20-21
For Jewish Christians this meant adding circumcision. A common teaching of men today would be that a Christian would need to believe in Jesus ... plus also follow the Ten Commandments in order to receive eternal life. This is also another gospel. The Ten Commandments are God's eternal truth and we are to follow them to become the righteousness of Christ in Him; but they are not conditions to salvation.
The point is that Jesus death on the cross releases us from the curse of the law. To add any part of the law to the good news is the same as adding circumcision to the gospel. Let that man be accursed.
Well, does this mean that I am saying we don't need to follow the Ten Commandments? Never!
That would be the path of a hypocrite. For one to follow that path diminishes the mission, and witness that Christ has given each of us.
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled to God. For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
What was different about this other gospel? They were teaching that in order to be a true believer, the new gentile converts needed to be circumcised. Now how does this translate to our society today? Answer: in a thousand different ways. Some say you must go to church on Sunday to be saved, and others might say Saturday. Some give testimony of another prophet or an angel. Others believe you must continually be forgiven of your sins by their minister or priest. Others teach that you must be a member of a certain denomination, and agree to religiously follow their teachings. Others may say we just practice loving other people. Some say you must be baptized to be saved. It really doesn’t matter what new condition a religion or denomination adds to their belief system … according to Paul they are all the same when they do it: accursed.
Paul pointed out that we are justified through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works of the law. Adding any works of the law changed the gospel of grace since by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live to God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:18-20
A key point that many believers have yet to understand is that when we trusted Christ as Savior … at that moment, we are one with him eternally. We are saved eternally. He sacrifice has paid the price for our sins. We are forgiven. It is finished. We are still here in our earthly bodies but He is now living through us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
We are justified on the basis of his payment for our sins ... past, present, and future for eternity.
Nothing can ever separate us from His Love. He bought us for an enormous price at Calvary.
This Truth is clarified further here:
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Hebrews 6:17-19
God Bless you my friends, Bob
Talavera.bob@gmail.com
‘Twas the Sunday Night Before Christmas
6 hours ago
Amen.
ReplyDeleteWhich hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19 KJV)