It Starts Small

Paul does not make a lengthy greeting and he gets to the point.

⁶ I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! ⁹ As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

Galatians 1:6-9

turning away from him

After Paul’s greeting, he dives straight into the main issue. This matter compelled him to pen this powerful letter. He passionately counters the Judaizers. This challenge was significant for the early church. Many zealous Jews insisted that the Law of Moses must still reign over believers. Essentially, they demanded that one must first embrace Judaism in order to truly embrace Christianity. This misguided teaching was rooted in a works-oriented mindset. It threatened to undermine the very essence of faith!

Paul’s rejection of a works-oriented gospel is vividly illustrated through his impassioned rhetoric and the profound depth of his emotion. In verse 6, he powerfully underscores the transformative grace of Christ.

⁶ I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Galatians 1:6

Salvation is by grace through faith! This powerful truth encapsulates the very heart of the gospel message. If anyone, anywhere claims that a deed is essential for salvation, they spread a dangerous and misleading falsehood.

Galatians was undeniably one of Martin Luther’s cherished books, a powerful cornerstone in the battleground of the Protestant Reformation. In this vital letter, Paul passionately underscores the transformative truth of justification by faith and the boundless grace of God. Thus, Galatians holds immense significance. It fiercely reminds us of the true gospel. This divine message brilliantly centers on God’s grace and not the futile efforts of man.

not that there is another gospel

Gospel means good news, and oh, what a profound good news it is! The gospel Paul passionately preached was a divine message from God to humanity. It proclaimed that salvation is not found in our works. Rather, it is a glorious gift of grace received through faith. Yet, alas, this counterfeit gospel that pervades our world today is not the true gospel. It is merely a shadow. It is devoid of the joy and hope that come from God. This false message has infiltrated cultures and religions across the globe. It erroneously declares that good works are the key to salvation. Countless souls believe they can earn their way to God through their own merits. They lose sight of the liberating truth of grace. This truth is meant to set us free!

Satan is the ultimate master of deception, relentlessly twisting the glorious truth of God! God calls us to place our unwavering faith in Him. Meanwhile, Satan cunningly lures us into believing that mere “good works” can suffice. This is nothing but a path fraught with failure, a perilous trap set to ensnare our souls!
(See Cross References)

Paul passionately declares that there is only one true gospel. Anything else is a deceitful lie! Every deviation from this truth is a vile perversion! We must stand firm against these falsehoods and not let them infiltrate the church, leading souls astray! Paul fervently asserts that the gospel he proclaims is the very gospel of Christ, and indeed, it is! Jesus proclaimed that He is the way, the truth, and the life! He taught us that salvation comes through faith, not through works!

²⁹ Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”

John 6:29

³⁶ The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:36

²⁴ “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

John 5:24

You cannot earn merit with God by merely performing good works. Your good deeds hold no weight in the grand tapestry of your salvation. Therefore, embrace humility! God alone deserves the glory for our salvation, and we, in our humble state, possess none. So, let us pour forth our hearts in unreserved praise to Him, the giver of all grace!

a curse be on him! 

Paul is seething with anger! His fury burns so intensely. He yearns to invoke a divine curse. He targets those who are spreading this vile deception. Why does Paul feel this way? Is his anger not justified? Can he be blamed for wishing ill upon them?

Imagine a devoted shepherd. He tirelessly watches over his precious flock. Then, he suddenly discovers that a group of reckless teenage boys is maliciously poisoning his sheep. The rage that surges within him is profound and justified! Picture a heartbroken father, finding out that a teacher has been abusing his innocent child. The seething anger that ignites in him is not just an emotion; it is a furious call to action! If either the father or the shepherd remains indifferent to these atrocities, we cannot simply write them off. We must confront the reality that they are not just negligent. They are selfish and profoundly evil at their core.

Paul is seething with righteous anger. He witnesses false teachers leading the sheep astray. They are driving many away from the profound truth of God. He refuses to passively watch as this travesty unfolds. Even though it might seem like the easier path, he actively resists it. Paul boldly takes a stand, fervently hoping that God will exact justice on those who perpetrate such deceit. I completely resonate with these feelings; if anyone dared to harm my children, the desire for punishment would engulf me. More critically, I demand decisive action against these wrongdoers! This is essential to prevent them from inflicting the same pain on others.

Paul is fervent in his conviction that there is but one undeniable truth. He stood firmly on the foundation of what he preached, knowing it was the ultimate reality. This unwavering certainty empowered him to declare bold statements like the ones found in verse 8. Truth, unwavering and constant, does not shift based on who utters it. If an angel were to proclaim a different gospel, it would show a fallen angel. This angel would be unworthy of our heed. Any teaching that veers from the divine revelations given to Paul by Jesus must be dismissed as a lie. God is a being of absolute integrity. He never contradicts Himself.

What are the implications for us?

• We can boldly stand on the truth! Never compromise or surrender when you firmly stand on the undeniable Word of God. Reject relative truth at all costs! (If something is unclear in Scripture, we cannot make an absolute stand.)
• We must take swift action to protect our sphere from any hint of false teaching infiltrating our beliefs. Church leaders must not hesitate to turn off the microphone if lies begin. Lies should be stopped immediately. Even better, they should thoroughly vet anyone before they take the stage. Claiming unity is not a valid excuse to tolerate deception! Parents must watch closely over what their children are taught. They need to ensure that false and worldly messages do not worm their way in.
• We should feel a righteous anger when we witness God’s flock being led astray. Therefore, we will do everything humanly possible to stop this from happening!
• We need to dive deep into the Bible, empowering ourselves to recognize any false teachings that may arise.
• We must exercise extreme caution. We must avoid ever becoming a false teacher ourselves. Otherwise, we may find ourselves under the weight of God’s curse!
• We cannot let someone’s fame, status, or charisma obscure our judgment regarding the actual words being spoken. We must always measure what we hear against the truth of God’s Word!

As we have said before, I now say again

In case anyone misses it, Paul repeats himself again. He feels strongly about this issue, and so should we. Any time we see something repeated in God’s Word we need to sit up straighter and pay attention. This is a VERY REAL issue Paul wants us to see and hear.

There are two powerful forms of anger that we must recognize. The first, a selfish anger, ignites within us when we feel inconvenienced or wronged. However, the second, a righteous anger, arises when we see the blatant disregard for God’s law. It also surges forth when we witness the suffering of others. While we should strive to rise above the selfish variety, embracing the righteous kind is imperative. A person who faces sin and injustice with indifference becomes apathetic. This apathy is dangerous and is not where God ever intended us to be. Like the Apostle Paul, let the reality of sin stir a fierce reaction in your heart. Remember, it is essential to “be angry, but do not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26)

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Cross References

• Revelation 12:9
• 2 Corinthians 11:3
• 1 Timothy 2:14
• Job 1:9-11
• 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
• 2 Timothy 2:26
• Ephesians 4:26
• 1 Corinthians 15:2-4

Questions to Ponder:

• What was Paul amazed by? Was this a “good” or “bad” amazed?
• Were these believers then rejecting Christ and turning to a false god?
• What did Paul mean by the fact that they were deserting Him? What were they turning to?
• What is a false gospel? What specific false gospel may they have been turning to?
• What warnings did Paul give them about this? What can we learn from those warnings?
• What do we learn about Paul’s character? What do we learn about the truth? About God?
• What is the gospel?

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