The purpose of Paul’s letter to Galatia was written to meet needs of a particular occasion. We are not left to second-guess the reason for which this letter was written. “I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another (gospel) only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7). What were these “foolish Galatians” doing? They were turning away themselves from the grace of God to a different gospel which Paul explained is not another gospel.
There is only one gospel, one faith (Ephesians 4:5); one message of good news (Romans 10:13); It is called Truth (John 8:32); the Word (Acts 8:4); the faith (Jude 3); the Way (Acts 9:2); the Gospel (Romans 1:16). There is one gospel for all men for all time (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15); and men will be judged by that one gospel (John 12:48). The truth, the one gospel will give freedom from sin (John 8:32), salvation (1 Timothy 2:4; Romans 1:16); it is able to save your soul (James 1:21). But one’s salvation is predicated upon his love for the Truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10). God intends for the Truth to be in us (1 John 1:8); keeping God’s commandments is the clear evidence that the Truth is in us. The Truth abides in the person who is faithful to the truth (2 John 2).
Truth can and has been perverted. Error and perversions are to be rejected! The gospel may be perverted, twisted, or changed (Galatians 1:6-9); “twist to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). Perversions of the gospel bring false teachers under condemnation (Galatians 1:8-9). God does not have a gospel for one group and a different gospel for another group. The one gospel does not reveal different plans of salvation. There is one way for all people to be saved. One must hear the gospel (Romans 10:14); one must believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God (John 8:24), where grace and salvation are found (2 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 2:10); one must repent of sins (Luke 13:3), and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27). People pervert the gospel of Christ by adding of taking away from His word (Revelation 22:18-19); perversions of the gospel assert:
1. That salvation is by faith only
(James 2:24-26).
2. That one is saved before baptism (1 Peter 3:21;
Mark 16:15-16).
3. All one has to do is pray to be saved, repeat the
sinners prayer (Acts 22:16).
4. That God is pleased with many different “churches”
(Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23).
5. Just accept Jesus as your personal Savior
(Hebrews 5:8-9; Matthew 7:21-23).
6. All worship is pleasing to God (John 4:24).
7. That we are to keep the Law of Moses (Romans
7:1-6; Galatians 3:24-25).
8. That Truth doesn’t really matter; sincerity matters
(Acts 9, 22, 26 look at Paul’s life, he was sincere, but sincerity
wrong! Sincerity is not sufficient).
One needs to remember 2 John 9: “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.” What kind of sin is John talking about? The kind of sin under consideration here is one that does not abide in the doctrine of Christ. To have the Father and the Son, we must abide in the doctrine or teaching of Christ; that is, we must do their will, as set out in the New Testament, “he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Truth is from heaven (John 1:17; 14:6); it must be known (John 8:32), believed (2 Thessalonians 2:12), loved (2 Thessalonians 2:10), and obeyed (1 Peter 1:22; 5:7). Only then can it set one free (John 8:32) and sanctify (John 17:17). One must be careful for truth can be perverted (Romans 1:25). The voice of the majority is never the proper standard in religion (Matthew 7:13-14). It is possible to be strong in numbers but not in truth (Jeremiah 9:3). The human race is not qualified to direct its own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). All men have the responsibility to hear the divine truth (Jeremiah 22:29). One must take heed what he hears (Mark 4:24); it must be truth. Friends, God’s word is powerful (Hebrews 4:12)!
Friends, the gospel is the good news that Christ came to earth (Galatians 4:4); that He died for our sins and was resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:1-4); that Jesus Christ opened the way to heaven (Hebrews 10:19-20). No one knows when the second coming of Christ will occur (Matthew 24:36). The Lord’s second coming will be sudden and unexpected as a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10). Are you ready for that day to come? Are you following, walking in truth (2 John 4)? Or are you following “a different gospel; which is not another (gospel)...” (Galatians 1:6-7)? “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15).