DEFECTION

DEFECTION. Galatians 1:6-10 It's a painful and sad surprise when we find out that those who once seemed so happy that God's grace saved them turn away from the truth they once believed. Even more upsetting is when they reject both the message and the messenger who first shared the Gospel with them. But the most troubling is when not only the message and the messenger are rejected, but preachers also claim that Christ's sacrifice on the cross is not enough to cover our sins. That suggests we sinners can meet divine justice ourselves, which is impossible because Christ couldn't. The foolish, irrational Galatians listened to those who did not understand the Gospel and tried to add their own efforts of law-keeping to the incredible price Jesus paid with His life. Paul was amazed that so soon after the Galatian believers received him, the message he preached, and the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, they had turned to "another gospel." Not everything called "the gospel" is good news. "The Gospel of the Glory of the Blessed God" is very different from false messages that teach circumcision and law-keeping are necessary for salvation. Some have a "gospel" of good works, claiming that being sincere and doing your best will get you to heaven. Others promote a counterfeit gospel that teaches baptism, communion, the mass, or other religious acts make one accepted by God. None of these are good news, and none are correct. The Galatians were not called saints, faithful, or holy. They were called "brethren," but that was all that could be said about them. They had abandoned the Lord Himself. Judaizers were attempting to distort the fundamental essence of the Gospel into something else. They were trying to turn light into darkness with another gospel. This does not mean they were offering a different approach to the same message. They were preaching a different kind of message—a false message, a false gospel. Those whom the brothers in the Galatian churches were listening to were those who were changing the entire character of the Gospel. They were removing the foundation of salvation through the grace of Christ alone. These religious practitioners still preach this counterfeit "Christianity" today. They are not genuine men; instead, they are religious professionals who base their "statements of faith" on the vote of the majority. Often, someone with a dogmatic nature from the past reads the Bible and applies a private interpretation to a series of verses taken out of context. They then record their unusual thoughts and teach them to others with the same authority as the scriptures. To them, they are right, and a new "denomination" is formed. The commitment of those who gather under the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone to His Person depends on the scriptures of truth as our sole source of doctrine and conduct. What we believe and practice is supported by the word of God. The people of Lystra once considered Paul to be the god Mercury because he was the first to preach there, and Barnabas was viewed as Jupiter, both pagan Roman gods. Now, Paul uses this as an example to condemn anyone, including himself, who preaches "another gospel," even angels. If he or the angels do not preach salvation by grace alone, they are cursed instead of blessed. Those who preach another gospel are truly messengers of the devil. God has saved us from this evil world of today through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been rescued from Satan's domain. Our loyalty should be to Christ, and we owe our allegiance to Him. Salvation is a gift from God, not a reward for our works. Any extra requirements would deny the power of the Lord Jesus Christ's work. No wonder Paul was concerned about the impact that false brethren had on true believers. His firm words aimed to awaken them to the danger they faced. The truth of God was being compromised, and those gatherings were at risk from teachings that led saints away from sound doctrine. Salvation by the blood of Christ combined with human works is a cheap and ineffective message. Twisting the truth is more difficult to handle than outright lies. The same biblical words are used, but their meanings differ. Similar hymns are sung, but the message received is very different from what the hymn-writer intended years earlier. Christianity cannot be merged with man-made religions. Open-mindedness and tolerance for everyone's opinions are misleading and harmful when it comes to accepting the message of salvation. Religion is not a substitute for genuine faith in Christ. The Old Testament contains wonderful truths that are relevant to us today. One has said, "In the Old Testament, the New Testament is concealed. In the New Testament, the Old Testament is revealed." We do not dismiss the Old Testament as useless in these New Testament times. We learn about what Christ is like through types, shadows, and illustrations. Judaism rejects Jesus as the Christ. Jesus is revealed as the Christ in the New Testament. The Old Testament is an inspired collection of truths given to us like real photographs. These two attitudes toward Jesus cannot be reconciled. Salvation by grace alone is the essential doctrine of the Christian Gospel. It cannot be altered or added to. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior must remain uncompromised. We must do what God commands and accept the consequences. Deceitful teachers and preachers must be rejected along with their teachings. We cannot please everyone, but our goal is to please God. Allowing those who seek to distort God's people to corrupt and destroy His church is a grave matter. No wonder Paul was shocked and disturbed by what was happening in the Galatian churches. The gospel they heard was no gospel at all. A so-called Christianity that includes anything extra is cursed. The backslidden condition of the assemblies in Galatia made the need for correction so urgent that Paul wrote the entire letter himself. He was not going to wait for a scribe to come and take his dictation. The Holy Spirit moved him, as a servant of Christ, to deal immediately and strongly with this false teaching. He was definitely not a servant of man.