LEARNING DAILY

Galatians 1:1-4, Paul, an apostle — not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

Pastor Ed Newton began a series of teachings on the book of Galatians. It will be impossible to write in this space all he said so I will focus on two of his points. First, he said there is only one true source of the gospel – it came from God and not man. “To add or take away from what is written in the Word of God is a false gospel. The true Word always points one to Jesus Christ, and Jesus always points to the Word of God” (EN). He continues “Anyone teaching anything or anyone sets a person free is teaching a false gospel – false news. Talking about religion does not bother the devil, but when one starts talking about Jesus, people get upset.” Can anyone else relate to that last sentence?

Look at what Paul said about God choosing him. Remember it was this same Paul who was persecuting Christians before Jesus got a hold of him on the road to Damascus. He was facing those who were trying to cancel his gospel message to those in Galatia. But God! God had called him to be an apostle – one called by God to tell others about Jesus – and “you cannot cancel one who had died to self” (EN). Paul was not perfect; you and I are not perfect; we have been set free from our sinful past and are to die to self. As Believers we are to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others through what we say and by what we do. The Believer’s identity is in, “I was lost and now I am found by Jesus Christ” (EN).

The other point I believe is important is the “attempt to shift one’s focus away from this gospel” (EN). Verse 6, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel —.” Paul was astonished; he was shocked at how quickly the enemy was able to deceive (emphasis is mine) and cause the Galatians to deviate from the Gospel. “THER IS NO OTHER GOSPEL!” (EN, my emphasis). Pastor made the following very clear. “No man has special revelation that is not revelation to all (take time to think that statement through). All revelation must go through the Word of God to be validated.” I want that to sink in because of the individuals today who say God has given them special revelation about this or that. I even heard one person say that what he was given was the last revelation to be given and it better be heeded! Be careful in listening to any individual who states this sort of thing.

I want to end with the attempts seen in the world today to deceive people and get them to move away from the Gospel. Pastor gave this list with their definitions. I believe it is important to recognize each and not be deceived. Each of these is false doctrine!

Legalism – I got Jesus but have to live by these rules, regulations, and traditions.

Moralism – Just be a good person and you will go to heaven.

Prosperity – Because you have “stuff” you are blessed.

Performance – If I serve enough in church God will love me more.

Poverty – Since I have little or nothing, I am more holy than another.

Universalism – Everybody goes to heaven.

Tolerance – Don’t call sin sin because it offends people and everybody is really okay.

Relativism – Truth is subjective. You got your truth, and I have mine.

Spiritism – Elevating encounters with angels and new revelation over the teaching in God’s Word.

New Age – I love Jesus, but I got my crystals, tarot cards, palm reading, energy, and horoscopes.

Syncretism – This is taking teachings from all religions like at a smorgasbord and throwing it altogether.

There is only one Gospel – Jesus Christ made the heaven and the earth, took the form of a human to come to walk on this earth, and took the place of whosoever would believe in His death on across, believe in His resurrection to save them and set them free from their slavery to sin!