No Other Gospel (Galatians 1:8)

"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." (Galatians 1:8, English Standard Version)

Today, and over the next several weeks, we're going to be taking a look at the book of Galatians. Most conservative Biblical scholars agree that Paul wrote this letter shortly after the Jerusalem council (ca. 49 A.D.; cf. Acts 15:1ff). It is Paul's first letter penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and it is the only letter he wrote that wasn't to a specific person or local congregation. Galatia was a Roman province in what is modern day Turkey. Paul established several churches there during his first missionary trip (cf. Acts 13:14 - 14:23).

The overall theme of Galatians is the believer's freedom in Christ from sin and the law. In this letter, Paul first outlines the great Christian theme of justification by faith alone (later expounded upon in the book of Romans). Some commentators have even called Galatians the "Magna Carta" of the Christian faith. I trust our time in this book will be well spent.

After his customary greeting, Paul quickly gets to business. The churches of Galatia were being led away from the true gospel to the gospel of certain false teachers that had infiltrated the churches. Paul wastes no time taking them to task for forsaking the true gospel of Jesus Christ. In today's passage, Paul gives his readers a stern warning. Notice in this warning: 1) the condition; and 2) the result.

1. The Condition ("But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you"). The gospel is the central message of the Christian faith. There are many things that Christian denominations split over, but the central message of the gospel is what unites all people who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In its most basic form, the gospel can be stated in four words: Jesus In My Place ("For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This message is what separates true Christians from impostors. We can agree to disagree on modes of baptism, or how to celebrate the Lord's supper, or how the local church should be governed. But you cannot tamper with the gospel and still call yourself a Christian.

Now, there are many false gospels floating around, but the one that Paul specifically attacks in the book of Galatians is legalism. Legalism is basically an addition to the gospel--Jesus + following a certain set of rules. Paul is going to develop this point further in this letter, but he likens legalism to willingly putting the yoke of slavery back on ("For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1). We'll look at Paul's argument when we address those sections. For now, the point Paul wants to drive home is not to follow nor propagate any other gospel than the one that saved you.

2. The Result ("Let him be accursed"). Paul uses very strong language to condemn anybody who would peddle a false gospel. The word "accursed" is the Greek word from which we get the word anathema (in fact, our English word is a transliteration of the Greek word), and it speaks of a thing or person doomed to destruction. This begs the question: Why would Paul use such strong language for those who preach a false gospel? The answer is obvious. If the true gospel saves, then a false gospel condemns. God despises false teachers more than anything else. We know this because Jesus saved his harshest condemnation for the false teachers of his day--the Pharisees (cf. Matthew 23:1ff). The entire book of Jude is a warning concerning false teachers ("For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" Jude 4).

Application Time. We need to be careful how we handle the gospel. The Bible tells us to "rightly handle" the word of truth, so we will not be ashamed (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15). A false gospel can have serious effects. One effect is that it could lead true believers into patterns of sinful living that will bring them under divine chastisement, or it could lead them to doubt their salvation. Another effect is that a false gospel could deceive unbelievers to think they are saved, when in fact they're not. And though everyone is responsible for their own actions, false teachers will be under greater condemnation (cf. James 3:1).

Furthermore, we need to be more discerning. The Bible warns us that as the Second Coming draws closer, there will be an increase in the preaching of false gospels (cf. Matthew 24:3-14). With so many false teachings floating around we need to be able to discern what's true from what's false. We must be like the noble Bereans who tested everything Paul preached to them with the Scriptures (cf. Acts 17). Scripture is our guide in discerning the true from the false.

Bottom Line. Jesus died so the we could be free from sin and its power over us. Legalism seeks to destroy our freedom by placing us back in bondage to rules and regulations. As Paul will say later, we weren't saved by following rules, so what makes us think that we can live in Christ by following rules (cf. Galatians 3:3)?

Have a blessed day!

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