I was first struck with verse 4 of the first chapter. The Lord Jesus "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." In our Friday night Bible study we've been going through the book of Romans. We're currently in chapter 13 and I've been meditating on verse 14, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." The same thought is described in Galatians. The Christian is redeemed, bought with the precious blood of Christ; he is to keep himself from evil, to not follow the ways of a sinful world that is passing away. And yet I find it is not I, but God who "works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
Reading further in Galatians we hear inklings of a "different" gospel (vv 6-9). Paul is quick to point out that this is not "another" gospel, but a "different" gospel. What does that mean? Well, "another" gospel might be teaching that has nothing to do with the God of the Bible. We see "other" gospels all over the world today, whether it be in other religions, astrology, new age psychology, etc. Paul is not speaking to these, but to a "different" gospel. A "different" gospel is loosely based on Biblical teaching, but is heretical. It gives the guise of being of Christ, but is in reality just the opposite. Paul says it is a "perverted" gospel (v7). It is this kind of gospel which has remained prevalent today within Christendom. Such a subtle teaching can have drastic consequences. This is why Paul shares his concern for the Corinthians, "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted -- you may well put up with it!" (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
So what is this "different" gospel? My friend, the perverted gospel of today is the same as the false gospel Paul spoke of. It is the belief that man can work his way to God by his own merits. That by being good, living a clean life, will provide passage into heaven. This is exactly the heresy Paul is fighting against in his letter to the churches of Galatia. In 2:16 Paul states, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." Titus 3:5 states, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Back in Romans Paul strongly debunks the idea that man can work his way to God. For man is sinful at his core; he has no righteousness of his own. Here is a sampling of verses from Paul's inspired treatise to the Romans:
"What then? Are Jews better than Gentiles? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no not one..." (3:9-10)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (3:23)
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law" (3:28)
"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (4:5)
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (5:8)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (6:23)
Back in Galatians Paul says, "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain" (2:21). Do you see what he is saying? Jesus came to provide a plan of salvation for you and for me. This plan involved Him laying down His life on the cross, to pay for our sins. If I can work my way to heaven then Christ died for no reason at all! The fact that Jesus died does not provide us a free ticket to heaven; we must trust the One who is Just. Romans 10 says, "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation...for whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
So it is shocking today how common it is to believe heaven can be gained by works. This teaching is a "different" gospel and only leads to destruction. My friend, if you are trusting in your own works, please read the book of Galatians - it contains a well of truth! The true gospel is such a marvelously orchestrated plan, revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Cor 15:3-4)
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