It’s clear that sin is bad. It
separates us from our holy God. We are talking about indulging our flesh in any
kinds of impurity including sexual immorality, being greedy including stealing
and deceiving, anger including bitterness, slandering and abusing, and every
form of malice (Eph. 4). Nevertheless, as bad as it is, there is always hope in
Jesus. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He
comes for anyone who is willing to repent.
However, in today’s reading,
Apostle Paul did not shout a repentance but he wished God’s curse for those who
commit a certain act. He said in Galatians 1:9, “…If anybody is preaching to
you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” He
repeated it twice – exactly the same consequence (Verses 8-9).
The Gospel is crucial. It talks
about Jesus Christ and the salvation work he has successfully accomplished. God the
Father let his Son – his only begotten Son - suffer terribly and die for the
atonement of the sinners. In return, He wants us to honor his Son. In John 5:23
Jesus said, “that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever
does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” Mark 9:7 also
tells what the Father highlighted, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to
him!”
At the time Paul wrote this
letter he was facing an opposed credence which was Judaism (Gal. 1:13). Judaism
takes Monotheism as their core belief – believing the only one (singularity) of
God. The idea of Jesus as a human who was actually the incarnation of God on
Earth was not acceptable by the Jewish. Let alone the doctrine of Trinity. They
could not welcome the fact that God had a Son; that Jesus was in the same
nature as the Father. They refused to
acknowledge the deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that it was the work of the
devil (John 8:42-44).
Sometimes, we encounter people
who come with a so-called gospel. They talk about Jesus, but a different one.
It might not be an open attack to what we believe. But as Apostle Paul said
that they are throwing us into confusion and trying to pervert the true gospel
(Verse 7).
The corrupted image of Jesus is
presented in many forms. It could be a Jesus who was merely human but somehow
got an honor to die for us - which could raise a doubt on him. It could also be
that he was only a spirit – which means he actually did not die for us. It
could be that he was God but not human (not came as 100% God and 100% human)
and therefore he could not die for us as God cannot die – making our
salvation impossible. Another one could be, that Jesus’ work is not enough –
means we need to add more regulations (work) to save ourselves, and thus deny
the finished work he actually did on the cross. It is important to notice that
people who bring this doctrine do not confess that Salvation is by grace alone,
through faith alone and in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9, Rom 3:24).
The perverted gospel degrades
the Son of God and destroys our faith. Sometimes we hesitate to admonish those
people who come with this belief. Apostle Paul asked us, that we must be strict
about it. He said in Verse 10 that we have to win the approval of God – means
we have to earn God’s decision that we have chosen a correct doctrine of
Christ. It is really serious. Paul said, “…If I were still trying to please
people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Love for other people should not
exceed love for Christ. God wants our total commitment in acknowledging the
true person of Jesus Christ and the perfect work he has done.
We also must be careful and
examine our doctrine, as Paul said,” But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under
God’s curse!” Let’s start with honoring our Savior Jesus Christ and read the
scripture carefully. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in the Truth. May God help us
all. Amen.
Reflection on Galatians 1:1-10
by Desire Litaay
(Listen to the Podcast here)
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