Thursday, October 19, 2017
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
OUR BATTLE STANDARD
There is only one Gospel of forgiveness and salvation, but there are many substitutes-- "different gospels" which are not other gospels at all. They are offered in place of the divine truth! When Paul learned of the carnal legalists who were purposely trying to mislead the Galatian Christians into eternal death, he wrote these Words: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."
These words poured from a heart that burned for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was greatly distressed at the Galatians' change of attitude. He knew the danger they faced. Luther faced a similar situation. His heart also burned for the Gospel of salvation. He knew the danger of the doctrines of demons being peddled by the Roman church. He knew that the "different gospel" meant condemnation for the souls of those trapped into anchoring their hope of eternal salvation in their own good works.
Any "different gospel" has but one purpose: To destroy blood-bought souls that Jesus died to win by insidiously and diabolically replacing the Gospel of forgiveness and salvation by grace with one of righteousness by works. Every substitute or "different gospel" offered by man is a Satan-devised mirage, the opposite of what Jesus teaches, designed for one purpose: To lead people away from their Savior into eternal death! These peddlers of death are still coming with their "different gospel" and they make it sound so inviting. Our Lord warns that those who teach a different gospel "do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple" (Romans 16:18).
By the powerful working of the Holy Spirit, God's Word continues to be preserved and taught among us in its truth and purity! But the battle to keep the truth continues to rage around us. May the Spirit enable us to carry forth the battle standard of the Reformation: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone!
