Not on your life! Galatians 1.6-9
Galatians 1 (2)
Opening Prayer: Psalm 87.1, 2
His foundation is in the holy mountains.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion
More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God!
Sing Psalm 87.1, 2
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
Upon the holy mountains rest the footings of the Lord,
Who loves of Israel’s flock the best the keepers of His Word.
Read Galatians 1.1-9; meditate on verses 6-9.
Preparation
1. To what were the Galatians beginning to turn?
2. What did Paul say about those who preach “another gospel”?
Meditation
As was often the case, shortly after Paul moved along from the Galatian churches false teachers arrived, corrupting his teaching and confusing the followers of Christ. Among the Galatians it was the Judaizers who came preaching “another gospel”. They taught that, yes, it was important to believe in Jesus and be baptized and all that. But one also had to be circumcised to be a true Christian, or so the Judaizers claimed.
A council in Jerusalem (Acts 15) had already rejected this teaching and clarified the Church’s teaching on the Gospel and what it requires. But that didn’t stop the Judaizers. Their message troubled the Gentile believers among the Galatians, as we can perhaps imagine. Nevertheless, they were almost persuading them of the necessity of circumcision.
Paul would cut these false teachers no slack. Here he described their teaching as “a different gospel” and warned the Galatians against turning to “any other gospel…than what you have received”. Those who pervert, distort, and corrupt the Gospel were to be “accursed” and rejected.
The apostles are the “last word” on the Gospel. All claims and teaching about the Gospel must be measured against their instruction. It doesn’t matter if the preacher or teacher you’re listening to is successful in gathering large crowds, or if his eloquence or charisma leaves you transfixed, or whether he is a prolific publisher of books, or even if he is an angel from heaven. If he does not preach the Gospel Paul preached, let him be accursed.
That’s stern and serious language. But perverting the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom is a serious transgression. Stay in the Word of God. Let Scripture teach you the Gospel and proclaim it to you day by day. This is the best way to keep from being drawn away to another gospel, which is not the Gospel at all.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Prov. 30.5, 6).
Circumcision is not the only way to fall off the true Gospel path. Think: health and wealth, all about grace, whatever feels good, happy-clappy ban unhappy, and a plethora of other deviations to the Truth.
Jesus said, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14.6).
There is no room in that statement for another word, thought, suggestion, or idea. No addendum necessary.
Only Jesus, and to know Him, is the long and the short of it: “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Rev. 21.6), as it were.
“‘Therefore behold, I AM against the prophets,’ says the LORD…‘for you have perverted the words of the living God’” (Jer. 23.30, 36).
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3.11). Only Jesus—His death and resurrection—is needed for the message of the Gospel.
Jesus did teach about the seeds of the Gospel falling on a variety of spots: some fell by the wayside, some on stony places, some in spots so shallow and arid that it was scorched and withered, and some fell on good soil. (Matt. 13.1-23; Mk. 4.1-20; Lk. 8.1-15).
Some people try to rewrite the story to fit the circumstances, whereby they fall desperately short of the truth. If the Galatians’ lives were not living up to the Gospel’s expectations, well then, just change the requirements. Make it more about activities and less about heart change. If some of the seeds that Paul sowed fell on lazy sod, could it all be made right by surgical procedures or incantations?
“I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down” (Prov. 24.30, 31).
“Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, since he has no heart for it?” (Prov. 17.16).
The true Gospel is firmed up in a heart and life by the study of God’s Word, and prayer.
But we must have a heart for it. We cannot be lazy about our sanctification (Phil. 2.12).
Otherwise, we are easy targets of the enemy by not daily seeking God’s guidance and Spirit. It is when we are sailing rudderless that we are easily blown off course and start to believe things that aren’t right. Paul finds us questionable persons… “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel…” (Gal. 1.6).
So, “Stay in the Word of God. Let Scripture teach you the Gospel and proclaim it to you day by day.”
If we do, we will never fall for a different gospel.
Reflection
1. Do you have a soul friend or a prayer partner? How could having one help you continue faithful along the Jesus Path?
2. Some people might say concerning the Gospel, “Yes, believe in Jesus, but also believe in this or that doctrine, if you want to be saved.” What’s wrong with this?
3. How do you guard yourself against false teachings that waft across your path from time to time?
By using the present tense, (“ye are removed”) he appears to say that they were only in the act of failing. As if he had said, “I do not yet say that ye have been removed; for then it would be more difficult to return to the right path. But now, at the critical moment, do not advance a single step, but instantly retreat.” John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Galatians 1.6
Thank You for the Gospel, Father; help me live it in love today as I…
Closing Prayer: Psalm 87.3-7
Give praise and thanks to Jesus, that He is building His Church and advancing His Kingdom, and that no false gospel will keep Him from fulfilling His agenda.
Sing Psalm 87.3-7
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
For glorious things are spoken of the City of our God;
the nations know His matchless love wher’er His feet have trod.
From south and north, from east and west they come, called by His grace;
thus Zion stands, full strong and blessed, before the Savior’s face.
The Lord will count and tally all in Jesus born again;
then let them sing, who on Him call, “We joy in God, Amen!”
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
To learn more about the salvation into which we have been delivered, order the book, Such a Great Salvation, by clicking here. Or order a free copy in PDF by clicking here.
Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
