COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS

LESSON NUMBER 2

Chapter One, Verses 6-9

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.”

AMAZEMENT

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ . . . ” (NIV).

How “astonishing” is it when someone embraces “another gospel”? Church people have become so accustomed to such departures, they think virtually nothing of them. The Gospel of Christ is so good, that it is remarkable that anyone would forsake it in preference for another message — yet many have.

Astonishment, or marvel (KJV) is generally the reaction of people to the things of Christ (Matt 12:23; 19:25; 22:33; Luke 5:9). Here, however, the spiritual mind is astounded at the preference of lesser things, and evern false gospels, to the Gospel of Christ .

DESERTING GOD THE FATHER. A serious charge, indeed, yet a true one. It is God Himself that has “called” us (1 Cor 1:9; 7:15,171 Thess 2:12; 4:7; 1 Pet 5:10). Note the irony of the situation: God called them, they deserted Him! God takes departures personal, because they really are.

IN WHAT SENSE DID THEY DEPART? They were called “into” (KJV) and “by” (NIV, NASB) the “grace of Christ.” The word “in” [the grace of Christ] is a literal translation. It indicates we were called within the framework of Christ’s grace, and to its reign. “Grace” is not a tangential theme—it is a central one! (Acts 13:43; 20:24; Rom 3:24; 5:2; Eph 1:7; 2:7-8; 2 Thess 2:16). THEY LEFT GOD WHEN THEY CEASED TO EMPHASIZE HIS GRACE!

Notice, the grace is associated with Jesus Christ. This is a common association in Scripture, because God’s grace comes ONLY through Christ Jesus the Lord (John 1:17; Acts 15:11; Rom 16:20,24; 1 Cor 16:23; 2 Cor 8:9; 13:14; Gal 6:18; Eph 2:7; 6:24; 1 Thess 5:28; 2 Thess 3:18; 2 Tim 2:1; Phile 21; Rev 22:21).

Those that cease to emphasize the grace that comes through Jesus—or who refuse to place Jesus in the center of their theology—have, in fact, left God. Their profession counts for nothing at all! The Apostle has no tolerance for relegating Jesus to the background.

ANOTHER GOSPEL

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you . . . and are turning to a different gospel” — NIV

The rejection of God is ALWAYS in order to embrace something or someone else! What was so serious about the Galatian situation was that they maintained a religious identity. Jesus Christ was not at the heart of their new persuasion, and the grace of God had been pushed to the outside. They had chosen, under the influence of heretical teachers, to embrace “a different gospel.”

The false gospel the Galatians had embraced was one of law and ritual. They had returned to a system of doing, rather than one of believing—and it was infinitely serious. Those that refuse the Gospel are enemies of it (Rom 11:28). A “different gospel” has been, and continues to be, a Satanic ploy (2 Cor 11:4). This is news that is not really good. It may be the Jews offering circumcision as a means of obtaining Divine approval (Acts 15:1). It may be one enforcing dietary rules in Jesus’ name, or even forbidding to marry (1 Tim 4:3). Others present a gospel of regimentation and rule-keeping, largely consisting of abstinence (Col 2:20-23). All of the diversionary gospel’s emphasis this world, and various forms of regimentation.

Paul is emphatic on this point. These gospels are not valid. They are really not “another”—that is, a Gospel that God recognizes. They may sound wise, and even yield some commendable results—but they are not gospel, and God does not recognize them. They cannot bring the blessing of God, or neutralize the power of our adversary, the devil. They are false to the core, even though they are religious.

PERVERTING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. A serious charge, indeed! They really did not corrupt the Gospel, they TRIED (NIV), or wanted (“would,” KJV) to corrupt it. To try and make the Gospel say anything other than what it is intended to say, is viewed by God as attempting to corrupt it. This is “wresting” the word of God (2 Pet 3:16). All of these efforts have no effect upon the Gospel itself, although they can lead to the condemnation of the hearers. The Gospel itself is an untainted today as when it was first given!

ACCURSED

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” — NIV

The arresting thing about these expressions is that most of us have heard gospels that differ significantly from the one preached by Paul. Religious culture encourages us to be tolerant of these divers gospels in the interest of unity or some organizational cause.

Those that tamper with the “everlasting Gospel” (Rev 14:6), jeopardize their souls. An acute awareness of this caused Paul to refuse the wisdom of words and of the jargon of this world to carry the Gospel. He knew that such things have corrupting influence—and God will not hold the person guiltless that attempts to corrupts His Gospel! Faith “comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17, NIV). To deliver a false gospel, therefore, inhibits the reception of faith. This is what the Pharisees did with their traditions—they stopped people from entering the Kingdom. How graphically Jesus stated the case. “You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to” (Matt 23:13).

There comes a time when God’s people must cease to defend the presentation of distorted gospels. Even if an angel delivers such a gospel, we are to “let him be eternally condemned!” Reinforcing the injunction, Paul says, “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” We are not to take their side. We are not to defend their right to say what they want, or to declare private views. The truth of the matter is that God will not allow those that try to corrupt His Gospel to escape His wrath. He will not allow us to plead for them, for such people are in the class of those for whom God would hear no prayers. “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!” (Jer 15:1). These are people that BRING corrupted gospels, not those duped by them. Each of us must develop an aversion to false gospels.