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3/15 Reading Portions: Exodus 26; John 5; Proverbs 2; Galatians 1
Galatians 1:7
not that there is another one,
but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
SUBTLE
When Paul speaks of “a different gospel” (Gal 1:6) or “a gospel contrary to the one” the Galatians received through Paul’s preaching (Gal 1:9), he writes it in a way that the word gospel could be put into quotes. This seventh verse states that there is not “another” gospel because there is only one, true gospel. There are, however, perversions of the one, true gospel; and the churches in Galatia were under attack by those perverting and distorting it.
The saints in this region understood the basic elements of the gospel, which Paul needed only to summarize in a few words: “the Lord Jesus Christ… gave Himself for our sins” (Gal 1:3-4) since He is God incarnate, born of a virgin, living the righteous life you and I cannot possibly live, and laying down His life as the only atoning and sacrifice acceptable to God. Moreover, He also delivered “us from the present evil age” (Gal 1:4) by the regenerating miracle which takes place by God’s grace, making us new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Therefore, we are no longer slaves to sin unto death, but slaves to righteousness unto life eternal (Rom 6:15-23).
In the remainder of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he presents the details and differences which pervert and distort the gospel, leading one away from the heart of truth, and eventually, away from the glorious person of Jesus Christ. Deviations from the gospel to distort its truth are ever so slight. The strategies of Satan are subtle. Paul will point out in the chapters to come that it doesn’t take much to pervert the gospel— a ritualistic work added to it, such as circumcision, or a small compromise in giving way to the flesh rather than submission to the Spirit, etc. We must surrender daily to Christ’s gospel in submission to its truth, because it is not man’s gospel, but Christ’s (Gal 1:11-12). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Enemies of the cross arise,
The truth they will pervert;
The one true gospel, they despise,
By adding flesh and work.