Here we are just a few days later looking at the same issue: people turning to a different gospel which is no gospel at all....Please read:
Galatians 1:6I 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— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But 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! 9As 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!
10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul was astonished at how fast people deserted the true gospel for a false one, and this wasn't the first church he had to write this to. We just looked at 2 Cor 11:4 a few days ago where we read this:
2 Cor 11:4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
So now we are looking at both the Corinthian and the Galatian churches astonishgly, easily turning to a "different gospel." Paul tells us clearly that a "different gospel" is no gospel at all and the men that preach them should be/will be eternally condemned.
Ok, so what's the point? The point is, if Paul pointed it out in 2 churches back to back when he was alive, what kind of "gospels" do you think are being preached today AND where's the warning about these false gospels and the men that preach them? Why is it important to be warned of false gospels and the men who preach them? Because a "different gospel" is no gospel at all which means it cannot save you.
I know that todays brand of "christianity" tells you not to worry about it because you "made a decision" during a teary eyed alter call at some point in your life, but what does the bible tell us? There are no idle words in the bible. Why was this idea of "a different gospel" important enough that Paul wrote 2 letters back to back to the Corinthian and Galatian churches to warn them about what they were accepting as "truth?"
When is the last time your "pastor" warned you about the different gospels being preached in the world and the men that preach them? I'd be willing to bet you have never been warned about these things, why not? It's sitting right there in the bible, why have you not been reminded of what has been written? At least part of the reason is what Paul says after he writes about the "different gospel," he asks "am I trying to please men?" Obviously not. Paul correctly states that once someone commits to Jesus, trying to please men goes out the door. We cannot be servants of Christ and want to please men because this example of pointing out the false gospels men preach will make you HATED by men. So we are left with a choice, please men or please God. Preach the truth in its ENTIRETY or preach an empty/half gospel as so many do today which is no gospel at all.
These things are important considerations for those of us who are waiting on our Lord. I wonder if people who are "so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel" I wonder if they will be counted worthy of the escape from all we see coming in the future (Luke 21:36). I wonder if the people who so easily accept a different gospel will "pass the test" we read about here:
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do younot realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?
I thought for sure that today I would be able to write something kissed with sunshine and sugarsnaps for you but following the leading of the Spirit does not always work out that way. In a world filled with evil and wickedness the Lord will use someone to warn people, he always does. As a human I much prefer to write about pleasant things. But I can tell you that if the Holy Ghost has me zig zagging, up down and all over the place, warn, encourage, or whatever else, that's what I'm going to do. This servant knows that self must die in order for the Lord to use us. His will be done, on earth just as it is in heaven.
The takeaway from this today is that we need to test ourselves, really examine ourselves and what we are accepting as truth. Nobody will admit that what they think is truth is really a lie, yet the bible tells us that many will go through the wide gate that leads to destruction and only a few will make it through the small gate that leads to life (Matt 7:13-23).
The moment I think I have the Lord's direction figured out he takes me in a different direction. So be it. We are dearly loved children, may the Lord bless you and keep you today, may his face shine upon you and may he grant you peace.
P.S. The Lords kindness and love has been revealed to me again today. In spite of the troubles in this world, our God does answer prayer. He does take care of his children, he does provide for us in spite of the world and all its workings. With everything inside me I praise him today. I encourage you to seek the Lord's face today, do not stop praying. If you have stopped, please start praying again. Believe that you will receive answers from this God of ours, even if you have to wait for the answers to show up. We all have to wait, but when the answers do show up-and they will, you will add your testimony to mine that our God is good and he does what his word says he will do. grace and peace
Be Anxious For Nothing
6 years ago