TEXT: Galatians 1:6-10

SUBJECT: Exposition of Galatians #2: The Mission Statement

Today brings us to the second sermon in our study of Galatians. And also to its most important text. It is Paul's "mission statement". He tells us--in few words--why he's writing. What he says is not enjoyable, but it is inspired, and therefore, good for us to know. And more than "good"; it is necessary that we understand what he's saying, and agree with it. May the Lord enable us to do so is my fervent prayer.

Our texts opens with a note of amazement, v.6a. "I marvel..." "I marvel" means "I am astonished". In the present tense, it describes a continuing state of mind. When Paul heard the news, his jaw went slack; and so it remains. He is very surprised and deeply disturbed. This is worth noting: Paul was a man of wide experience; he'd seen it all. But even he wasn't prepared for what happened in Galatia. He was thunderstruck.

Why is he so surprised? He leaves no doubt, v.6b. "I marvel that you are turning away from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different Gospel..."

The believers in Galatia were "turning away". The word means "deserting", and recalls a soldier quitting his post or defecting to the other side. In short, they were on the verge of treason. Doctrine is more serious than many think it is. The Galatians were about to change--not just their opinions--but their god. They were "turning away from Him"--not merely from "it".

What they were leaving is "the grace of Christ" (v.6) or "the gospel that we preached to you" (v.8). What is this "Gospel"? As a doctrine, the Gospel is summarized in three Reformation mottoes: Sola Gratia, Solo Christo, and Sola Fide. These mean, in short: Salvation is by grace alone; salvation is through Christ alone. Salvation is received by faith alone. The key word is "alone". The Galatian heretics believed in "grace, Christ, and faith" as much as Paul did. But they mixed in human merit with God's grace, put the Law alongside of Christ, and joined good works to faith. In doing so, they not only modified the Gospel; they destroyed it.

What they were leaving the Gospel for is "a different gospel". It was identical in name, but radically different in content. Therefore, it is no Gospel at all! Paul won't mince words: "...You are turning to a different Gospel which is not another!"

What is this "different Gospel"? One teacher has defined it as adding to or subtracting from the Bible as God's Word. Is he right? Yes and no. He is right in that we mustn't alter the canon of Scripture. But he's wrong in equating that error with the "different Gospel" which Paul has in mind. How do we know this? It's very simple: no one in Galatia was doing that. Read the epistle as carefully as you wish; you'll find no one denying the inspiration of Scripture or putting his own revelation an a par with it.

The heresy Paul combats is something other than that; something much more complex and subtle. What is it? Let me try to briefly describe it.

This is the "different Gospel" which Paul finds so disturbing: Christ + Moses = Salvation. Galatians was written 1950 years ago. But it's as relevant to the church today as it was to those saints who lived centuries ago. The Galatian heresy is dead and gone--but it's descendants are legion.

What were the practical effects of the heresy? Paul lists two, v.7b: It "troubles you". The church was disrupted by this other Gospel. How? It made some members think too highly of themselves and too lowly of others. "I keep the Sabbath--she doesn't" "I'm circumcised--he isn't". "We're kosher--they're not". The heresy produced arrogance which caused conflict, "But if you bite and devour one another, beware, lest you be consumed by one another!", 5:15.

The second effect is even worse. It "perverts the Gospel of Christ". How? By diminishing the Savior. In this scheme, He is unable to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him". He'll contribute to your salvation; He won't save you.

How were the Galatian believers "so quickly turned"? V.7 tells us: "There are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ". The churches--in short--didn't develop these heresies on their own. They were imported by false teachers. Who were they? Their names are not given. But 2:12 offers a hint: Speaking of Peter, we read: "for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision".

James (the Lord's brother) was not personally involved. But some of his followers were. They insisted on retaining the Mosaic Law in the church. For a time, Peter went along with them. The "some who trouble you", therefore, are professed Christians who impose the Law of Moses on the church of Christ.

Question: Is it wrong to keep a kosher diet? No it is not. Had they stopped there, Galatians would not be with us today. But they didn't stop there. They imposed it on others as a term for fellowship with God and His people.

How many false teachers were involved in the Galatian churches? We don't know. Paul writes, "there are some". But a bit later, he implies that their number is pretty small, 5:9: "A little leaven leavens the whole lump". And so they did. A few men--undetected by the churches, unchecked by the pastors--nearly ruined Paul's great work in Galatia.

What does Paul have to say to these false teachers and their students? Here's what, vv.8-9: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed".

When it comes to weak-minded brethren, Paul is as gentle as a nursing mother. But if anyone perverts the Gospel--no matter how nice he is--Paul becomes a man of war!

"Let him be accursed". The word "accursed" or "anathema" (KJV) means "set apart for destruction". J.B. Phillips says "May he be damned". The GNB puts it, "Let him be condemned to hell". Luther said of it, "Let him...be accursed, execrable, and detestable...have nothing to do, no participation, or communion with God". Paul is a kind man. But if you twist the Gospel of Christ, he wants to see you in hell!

He isn't carried away with rage. To make sure we know that, he repeats himself. "Again...let him be accursed".

V.10 makes it clear he isn't trying to win anybody's favor with the curse; he isn't posing as a "tough guy". "For do I now persuade men?" This means "Am I trying to win their favor?" No he isn't! He's seeking to please God; he's trying to be faithful to Christ.

Therefore, he's not speaking for himself or his party or his church. Paul is speaking for God and Christ. Thus, it's not Paul's curse that the distorters of the Gospel must fear, but the Divine curse!

This is what Galatians is all about: God has entrusted us with the Gospel--the only Gospel--and we must sincerely believe it and faithfully transmit it to others. We're not "given" the Gospel' we're "entrusted" with it. "It is required in stewards that they be found faithful".

Let us, therefore, be more concerned with doctrine than we are. What you believe matters--not just that you believe or how strongly you believe.

Let us, however, be strongest in the doctrine of the Gospel. Paul did not curse men for differing with him on baptism or church government or drinking, but on the Gospel. Let his priority be ours. In secondary matters, let us be as charitable as he is. But in "the one thing needful", let us be as intractable and passionate as he is. May the Lord give us the grace to walk the tightrope--for Christ's sake. Amen.