Galatians 1:6-10

                                                                     Galatians 1:6-10

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.  For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

There are many dangers believers face while living in this fallen world.  Some of those dangers are external in the form of persecution and suffering because the Gospel is exclusive and therefore offensive to every other belief system.  However, the most serious dangers believers face are often internal in the form of false teachings and divisions.  While external dangers often lead to the growth and expansion of the Gospel; internal dangers often lead to disaster.  Paul starts this letter by abruptly warning the church in Galatia of these internal dangers.

 

THE DANGER OF DESERTION: The church in Galatia was evangelized with the only true Gospel: justification by faith.  Unfortunately, because of the influence of Jewish legalists, they deserted their faith and turned to a means of self-righteousness through obedience to the Law.  This is a false gospel the has no ability to save.  They were not rejecting Paul but Christ who died for their sins so that they could be saved by grace alone through faith alone.  The false teachers were distorting the message of Christ and the many of these immature believers were falling for this false teaching.  The truth is always in danger of being distorted which will often lead to the desertion of the Gospel.

 

THE DANGER OF DESTRUCTION: Paul does not hesitate to make know his utter contempt for those who have adulterated the Gospel.  He makes it clear that they are to be accursed.  The truth of the Gospel must be defended at all costs.  Paul is so convicted of the message he has given that he says if he, any of his follower, or even an angel from heaven were to speak any other Gospel that they should be destroyed.  The Jewish false teachers may have claimed to have heard a special message from an angel.  Paul makes it clear that this should have no impact on what they believe or how they view that message.  So many cults today are based on some sort of special revelation.  These false religions are doomed to destruction.

 

THE DANGER OF DISTRACTION: The reason we preach and minister is for the glory of the Lord.  However, it is easy to become distracted by the praise of men and our longing for popularity.  Paul may have made more friends by going along with the message that had become popular in the church.  However, the truth cannot be sacrificed on the altar of popularity.  It is impossible to be a servant of God while seeking to live for the glory of others.  Paul makes it clear that he has made his choice to stand for the truth of God’s Word.

 

APPLICATION: We must be careful never to fall for or communicate any message of salvation apart from justification by faith in Christ alone.  We must never allow that message to be distorted.  Warn in as severe terms as possible of the impending judgment that will fall upon any who proclaim a false Gospel.  No matter how unpopular the truth may become, we must always stand in the defense of the true Gospel.

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