“I AM ASTONISHED that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a DIFFERENT GOSPEL— which is really NO GOSPEL AT ALL. Evidently some people are throwing you INTO CONFUSION and are TRYING TO PERVERT (metastrephō: To change or corrupt) THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.” (Gal. 1:6-7) Paul was shocked and outraged CHRISTY. Therefore his address to the Galatians is filled with righteous indignation.
This gospel you are turning to “…is really NO GOSPEL AT ALL. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, LET THEM BE UNDER GOD’S CURSE!” (Gal. 1:7-8)
This is what the true gospel does for us:
- Unparalleled seriousness in joy at the GRACE and PEACE that is ours in verse 3: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Gal. 1:3)
- the deliverance from evil and destruction that is ours in verse 4: Jesus, “…who gave Himself for our sins to RESCUE US from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…” (Gal. 1:4)
- the soul-satisfying glory of God in verse 5: “…to whom be glory for EVER AND EVER. Amen.” (Gal. 1:5)
Jude writes this to encourage us, “May God give you MORE and MORE mercy, peace, and love. Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to DEFEND THE FAITH that God has ENTRUSTED once for all time to His holy people.” (Jude 1:2-3)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham