The Gravity of a False Gospel Galatians 1:8-10.
Dear Royal Priests,
Having identified the problem the Galatians are dealing with, and knowing the source of the problem, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that there are situations that cannot be handled with kid gloves. Anything that threatens the core of the faith must be dealt with ruthlessly. Diplomacy has been thrown out the window here.
Curse (vv. 8-9). Paul already preached the gospel of grace to the Galatians. No other gospel exists. It cannot be changed by the Apostle (v. 8a). Paul was the one, along with Barnabas, who had brought the gospel to them, but he is not at liberty to alter its content. Apostolic authority was for proclaiming the gospel as the apostles had received it from Christ and as the Holy Spirit had revealed it to them (Acts 1:8; John 16:13-14). Nor could the gospel be varied by an Angel (v. 8b).
Even if that angel came directly from heaven, he could only deliver what had already been received. If he declared anything different, it would only prove that he was not from heaven, as he claimed. The gospel cannot be tampered with by Anyone (v. 9). There simply does not exist anyone in heaven or on earth who can purport to modify what God has declared. The truth of God remains as is. Heaven and earth will vanish before the word of God does, and even then, it will be fulfilled first (Matthew 5:17-18).
Anyone who tampers with the gospel only brings upon himself a curse. The Greek word Paul uses – Anathema – means something devoted to evil and by implication, destruction. Paul is simply saying that such a person should be damned for eternity. While this may sound extreme, it is important to understand that those who twist the gospel condemn those who follow them to hell, so Paul says they also should go to hell (he is not swearing!). Jesus alluded to this when he taught that those who cause his little ones to stumble would have been better off “if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea” (Luke 17:2). What could be worse than being drowned in the sea, if not hell?
Cause (v. 10a). Paul has chosen to please God rather than men. So he preaches the gospel as he had received it from the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:3), not minding that to some it was a stumbling block and to others, foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23), because to those who are called (how else but by the grace of God?) it is the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).
Course (v. 10b). Paul chose to stand up and be counted. He could not be a men-pleaser and still be a true bondservant of Christ. As we have seen elsewhere, earlier, a bondservant was a slave who gave up his right to freedom and opted to serve his master for life, instead. The master’s wish is the bondservant’s command.
It would be folly for such a one to try and gain the approval of anyone but his master. Are you a bondservant of Christ? If you are a believer, you ought to be. So stand up like Paul and be counted. Lose friends if you have to, but do not compromise the gospel of grace.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.