True Christianity 3
Gal 1:7-9 NKJV
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
This message that the Jewish missionaries were bringing into the Church, has a similarity to the Truth of the Gospel, but, it is not the Gospel … it is a perversion of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The word “pervert”, means to distort, to twist. To slant, to falsify, to misrepresent.
The Good News that Jesus brought and paid for, had been twisted, warped and falsified by these missionaries.
Paul does not mince his words … under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he declares:
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Wow!!!
This is serious!!
The word “accursed” is taken from the Greek word, “anathema”, which means to be devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal damnation.
So, if anyone brings a message or teaching that distorts or twists or warps the Gospel of grace through Jesus Christ … is in serious danger of damnation and hell.
Whereas the law has a curse for those who fail to keep it, the gospel has a curse for those who seek to change it. (Believer’s Bible Commentary)
Paul asserts that whether it be he himself, an angel from heaven or any other person changes the Gospel of Christ by adding to it … let that person be cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ … and should they not repent … be damned.
True Christianity 4
Gal 1:10 NKJV
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Gal 1:10 AMP
10 Now am I trying to win the favour of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
At some stage Paul was accused of changing to suit his audience … which he admits to (1 Co 9:20-23) to the Jews, I became as a Jew so that I might win Jews, to those without the Law, as one without Law, to the weak, I have become weak … I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Yet to the Galatians, he settles the issue by saying that he does not care whether he is offending anyone’s feelings or position … what is happening in their congregations is a matter of eternal life or death.
If at any stage, I as a minister of the Gospel of Christ, seek popularity, the favour of men or to rather please their ears, I am not a bond-servant of Christ.
It’s as simple as that. We are either serving men or God, we cannot do both.
Our message is either the pure Gospel of Christ or not :
Rom 1:15-17 NKJV
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
Paul has one message … the Good news of Jesus Christ. It is in the message of Christ that humanity receives the power of God to everything included in His magnificent salvation.
If we try to add anything to that Good News … we are moving away from the Gospel.