One True Gospel (It's Jesus)

elliegmossberg
Jan 4
4 min read

Today, we are going to start a deep dive into Galatians. As I read and reflect on Paul's words to the Galatians, I often see so much encouragement and hope, as well as some exhortations to be more like Christ. As we begin this new year, I want to focus more on the wisdom we can find in all of scripture. That's why I'm going to do some more deep studies in individual books of the Bible.

So, with that, let's take a look at Galatians 1.

Paul, an apostle - sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia: Grace and peace to you from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 1:1-5 NIV

First, I noticed that Paul is calling himself as an apostle, an intimate follower of Jesus with the same title as the 12 apostles. He was sent by God himself. Paul is stating his credentials. He has the authority needed to be speaking here. 1

He then dives right into a brief description of the gospel.

Lately I've been learning about the importance of the gospel and continually preaching the gospel to ourselves. Here's a link to a podcast by Living Waters that talks deeply about the topic. 2 I've been learning that even though we know the truths of the gospel and we may even be able to recite Roman's road from memory, it does not lose its power once we are saved. We can continually preach the gospel to ourselves as a reminder of all that God has done for us and all he continues to do through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

We can continually preach the gospel to ourselves as a reminder of all that God has done for us and all he continues to do through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Paul then goes into the importance of the true gospel and paying attention to who we are listening to.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:6-7 NIV

The word "gospel" means the good news. Paul is saying here that the gospel you're hearing from others really is no "good news" at all. Anything other than the gospel of Christ is from Satan and meant to deceive us. Today, we hear people saying, "you can believe that all you want, but that's not my truth." By claiming a "truth" that is different than the true gospel, our culture is being deceived and drawn away from the only Truth (capital 'T' intended) that brings us eternal life. Real love is telling people the hard truth of the gospel, which brings life.

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! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse!

Galatians 1:8-9 NIV

Strong words from Paul here and He even says them twice for good measure. Even if Paul himself returned and began preaching another gospel, Paul acknowledges that he would be wrong in doing that. He's saying, don't even listen to me if I tell you anything but this true gospel. That is a confidence in the message that should make it clear to us how truly significant the truth is. It's beyond every teacher on earth and greater even than the angels in heaven! Paul expresses his love for the Galatians by showing that it was never about Paul or his own teaching but about Jesus and the hope we have of eternal life through Him.

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 NIV

This verse feels like a holy gut punch every time I read it. I tend to fall into people pleasing a lot. It's almost crippling sometimes. But trying to please people instead of living for an audience of one is a sin. Plain and simple. It's not cute, or nice, or quirky, to be a people pleaser. It is a sin that Jesus died for. So we need to throw it off and flee from it with all we've got! "If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

It's not cute, or nice, or quirky, to be a people pleaser. It is a sin that Jesus died for.

Who am I going to serve this week? Myself, by making people like me more? Or Jesus, by showing His love to others regardless of how they feel about me afterwards? It's a daily choice. I must lay down my life, take up my cross and follow Jesus. Let's start new today and live for Jesus and Jesus alone.