Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by 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 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 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!
The key question about today's scripture is, What gospel is Paul advocating and what is "no gospel at all?" Paul is writing to the Galatians to express his concern about inserting the law and its regulations as an essential part of being a Christian. Paul contends that this action destroys the true gospel and that it really is no gospel at all, for the law is powerless to redeem men and women from their fallen state. Paul was afraid they would forfeit their place with God by relying on their human efforts instead of God's grace, trusting in their works, not his works. Why did Jesus die on the cross if the law and its regulations could achieve salvation for mankind? Why did He die and why did the millions of animals who were sacrificed for sin die if righteousness could be attained through following the letter of the law? Why would anyone die for such an anemic gospel that is so easily attained by people doing and thinking better? Why? Why? Christianity has many facets, many motivating principles to inspire a person to follow Christ. Some are based on bettering the flesh and society here on Earth, and some our based on spending a better eternity in heaven. But the overall Good News is that Christ came to save sinners. Basically Christianity relies on faith in Jesus Christ and his works, not man's works. Jesus said, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Jesus points to eternal life as the reward of faith in him. The disciples gave their energy and life for this cause. Even though good works are important in Christians' lives, Paul, Peter, James, and the rest of the disciples went not into the world to meet the people's needs for food, water, and shelter. No, they risked their lives to tell men and women that God sent his Son to save them from sin and to give them life eternal. Paul wrote, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8) They gave all because they knew they were bringing freedom to captives who would then spend eternity with Christ.
Are we not to do good? Of course we are! The fruit of the Holy Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control--produces good works. The product of these wonderful attributes of the Holy Spirit will be the feeding, clothing, and sheltering of people in need as an outgrowth of our faith in God. As temples of the Holy Spirit, Christians will reflect God's goodness to all people and behave as good stewards of our environment: plants, animals, water, everything. We will not contaminate God's wonderful creation with violence and destruction. We will be caretakers of this Earth that God concluded is "very good." The psalmist wrote, The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. (Psalm 24:1) But the goal of the early church and Paul's mission was not to make people aware of the concerns of the world but to present the salvation message of Christ to a fallen people. Paul wanted to protect this gospel and that is why he was so troubled about the Galatians returning to the old law and its regulations? Why does he consider this a different gospel or not a gospel? He knew it was dangerous because adding works to grace fits so well into the basic waywardness of mankind. Since the fall in the Garden, mankind has always wanted to be a god unto himself. His nature is to prove that his ability to do good rests in himself, not in God. His will, not God's will. "Who needs God, for I can function on my own." "Give me the map God: give me the directions and then watch me do it." "Watch me do the right thing." "Watch me be like you." "I will be good like you." "I WILL DO IT." Jesus said, Why do you call me good? No one is good — except God alone. (Mark 10:18) This is the basic sin that corrupted mankind from the beginning. The Israelites when presented with the Law said: "We will do it. We will fulfill our side of the covenant." But they failed miserably. The Old Testament was a schoolmaster to teach us one thing: We need a Savior, someone who can fulfill our side of the covenant of righteousness with God. Only Christ could bridge the gap that separated us from our God; only Christ could sign his name to the new covenant.
The price for the fulfillment of our side was the death of the perfect man, Jesus Christ. He knew no sin, the perfect sinless lamb. The gospel is that the Lamb was placed on the altar for all people for all time. John wrote, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8) If we know the truth at all, we know all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) None of us will be placed in God's intimate presence without the sanctifying blood of the Lamb, cleansing and covering us. Jesus alone pleased God completely. The Bible says, The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:3) In other words, Jesus is perfect, holy and right in all that He does, for as He said when He walked on Earth, his only desire is to please the Father and to do his will. This is the gospel: while we were yet sinners, He gave his life for us. Paul was zealous for this message, gave his life for this message. Paul, the intellectual and Pharisee of the highest regard, knew no man could please God by obeying the law. In Acts the disciples asked, who can obey all the law, implying: none of us. Paul was asking the church at Galatia and we much ask ourselves why we strive to be good or pleasing to God by trying to obey the law or by our good works. Paul knew that all men needed a gate of righteousness in their lives to take them to God. He also knew he was saved by grace alone. Paul told the Ephesians they had been lifted up into heavenly places with Christ because of God's grace. He went on to say, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) We are not going to just recoup the position Adam and Eve had with God in the Garden. That was a "very good" existence, but the gospel states that we will be known as adopted children in the household of God. This is what Paul considered the results of the true gospel. The plans God has for us in his family are beyond our imagination. What a new heaven, a new Earth, will look like is beyond our comprehension or experiences. But we know Jesus went to prepare a place for us, and He said, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:3)
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