“One Year Bible” New Testament Passage (for Fri., Sept. 14, 2012)
Galatians 1:1-24
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, … 9 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. Galatians 1:6,9 (NKJV)
Paul was RELENTLESS in his defense of the Gospel of Grace. He was a clear as a bell about the nature of the Gospel. He warned against a FALSE GOSPEL in the severest terms. He saw the significance of this entire topic, and he allowed no compromise.
We live in a day in which it seems everyone makes up their own version of the gospel. For some it is nothing more than the general belief that God loves us. For others, the gospel is built around our good intentions and says, “God helps those who help themselves.” Still others believe that the gospel is a matter of religious ritual. Some tie the gospel to the Old Testament law and find God’s grace nothing more than enablement to keep the law. For them, righteousness is not given, it is earned by faithful obedience.
So many voices! Paul thunders at us. The Gospel is “not according to man” (vs. 11). The Gospel is centered on Jesus. The Gospel speaks of Who He is and what He has done. The true Gospel is ABOUT JESUS. It is so difficult for us human beings to get that through our skulls. We keep wanting to earn it. We keep wanting to mold it in our own image.
Perhaps the greatest breakthrough any Christian can ever make it when they come to see by revelation (see vs. 12) the nature of the Gospel. This will SET YOU FREE. This will MAKE YOU ALIVE. This is GOOD NEWS.