Galatians 1:6-9 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.
In Philip Ryken's expository commentary, his comments about this passage are very helpful. In the brief snippet below he is addressing the way the Judaizers-the ones troubling the Galatians by distorting the gospel - were adding works (circumcision) to the gospel rendering it no gospel at all. Ryken warns-
The church's greatest danger is not the anti-gospel outside the church; it is the counterfeit gospel inside the church. The Judaizers did not walk around Pisidian Antioch wearing T-shirts that said, "Hug me, I'm a false apostle." What made them so dangerous was that they knew how to talk the way Christians talk. They used all the right terminology. They talked about how they "got saved." They told people to "trust in Christ." They "presented the gospel."
Only they did not have the gospel after all. We should expect, therefore, that the most serious threat to the one true gospel is something that is also called the gospel. The most dangerous teachers are the ones who preach a different Christ but still call him "Jesus".
2 comments:
Exercising the truth and the disciplines of this passage must be an ongoing reality! There is not a moment that passes that a believer should allow listlessness to gain a stronghold in our walk with Christ! We must be diligent at all times; aware of our enemy, and armed for battle! Putting on "the whole armor of God", means keeping our “Swords” sharpened at all times! The vigilant must always, as the Berean’s of old did, in Acts 17:11, “for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” A constant state of watchfulness for false teachings, and false doctrines is not an option; it is part of responsible stewardship. Therefore, every believer must be on guard, knowing that unceasing warfare is not only in the world, but subtle and cunning enemies can invade any sleeping church. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” I Corinthians 15:58
I think your sermon last Sunday without necessarily naming names or churches touched on those groups that believe in another Gospel and having known many who practice some form of legalism rather it be their works or sacraments or traditions they seem to believe that they do follow the same Gospel as us. However, their leaders and churches are preaching another Gospel that prior to ESV the term accursed would be Anathema. I came across a website last night that may be of interest to those who are lost in another Gospel which of course is no Gospel at all.
http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/salvation/salvation.htm
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