Galatians 1:9
“As we have said before, so I say again now if any man is proclaiming to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!”
Our culture has never been wilder and more liberated today. At the same time, sangkaterbang kasinungalingan at maling doctrines about the Bible, God, Christ, and the gospel ang mas lalo pang kumakalat by so many false teachers, false churches, false religions, and even false Christians.
Dahil dito many in the church are being influenced by these disastrous worldviews that challenge our faith. Pero mas nakakadismaya kung mismong sa Christian circle nanggagaling ang distortion most especially to the nature and teaching of the gospel.
Sa passage natin now, the emphasis is the gospel. Sa time ni Apostol Pablo napaka ganda ng kanyang sinulat para sa mga taga Galatian-Christians. Let’s dig the gold and diamonds sa Galatians 1:9.
If I can speak personally to Paul, itatanong ko sa kanya, “bakit mo sinabi Paul ang verse 9? “What’s the issue brother Paul?” Anong reason sa mabigat at matalim na salitang binitawan ni Paul?
I have learned three important reminders that encouraged me as a disciple of Christ concerning the gospel.
Defending the True Gospel
We all know that the apostle Paul was sent by God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and beyond. Sumulat sya sa mga Galatian-Christians to confront them about the gospel of Jesus Christ which was being distorted by some people among them. The gospel that they have received was being abandoned by them for a different gospel (see verses 6-7).
Tinatalikuran nila ito para sa gospel na distorted because they were deceived.
What does he mean by “distorting”? This means someone is adding to, subtracting from essential elements of salvation, or deforming the solid truths of Christ’s person and accomplished works for our salvation.
In this context, they added unnecessary things to the gospel. These are: circumcision, rituals, and Law (see 2:3, 16; 3). Problema nga ito!! Dahil ang mga ito ay gawa ng laman or deeds of the flesh not of the Spirit by faith. Remember Ephesians 2:8-9? (By grace through faith you have been saved, not by works).
Ang mga deceiver na tinutukoy ni Paul dito ay nagbibigay pa ng burden sa mga Christians na ito instead freedom from the bondage of any work of the flesh which is the fruit of receiving the true gospel.
The gospel or good news is not about rituals, circumcision, or the law. But it is about the person and works of Jesus Christ. It’s about who He is and what He has done for God and for us on the cross, showing that He is the Son of God and the only Savior that can satisfy the divine wrath of God so that all sinners will be saved.
This is God’s justice and love for us which was fully displayed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 3:23-26).
Ito ang gospel na tinanggap nila. No doubt na sa chapter 3:1 tinawag sila ni Paul na “you foolish Galatian”, o “mga hangal”. One preacher translates it this way “you stupid and idiot.”
It is important that we know the true gospel so that we can defend its true message and true nature. Because salvation depends on it. Wrong gospel equals no salvation. Kahit nga ang mga anghel ay walang karapatang baguhin or dagdagan ang mensahe ng magandang balita.
‘Di natin madedepensahan ang gospel kung ‘di natin alam ito or wala sa atin ito. We must always defend the good news by constantly knowing it deeper and by faithfully teaching it to others. When there’s a professing Christian na mali ang understanding sa gospel, talk to him with love, and explain the true gospel.
There is only one gospel, one message of salvation, one Lord, one Savior and that is Jesus Christ alone. Another thing that I’ve learned from Paul is his concern for the lives of Galatian-Christians in the gospel.
Living in the Gospel
Bakit ang heavy ng words ni Paul? As mentioned previously, Paul’s words are strong and heavy. Bakit nga ba ganon kabigat? Because what is at stake here is their life, testimonies, and the truth about the gospel of our Lord and Savior.
That is why Paul’s word here is so straight cut and heavy. He intentionally used that language for the sake of saving, rebuking, teaching, and warning them. The heart of Paul is to protect them from false teachers and from believing a false gospel.
It is tough love from Paul. As I can see, di baleng masaktan sila by acid words, basta mailigtas lang sila from being deceived. It’s like asking “what do you want, bitter medicine for your healing or sweet candy that will lead you to danger?” I would rather choose the bitter medicine for me to be saved from sickness.
Paul loves them because God loves them as well. The gospel is central in our lives as Christians. If we believe a false gospel, our actions will follow. Believing in a wrong gospel is following a wrong path and a false savior. Therefore, believing fake good news is a life that is contrary to the will and word of our King and Master Jesus Christ.
Ganito kabigat ang implikasyon ng believing a wrong or distorted gospel. It affects everything from our minds to our hearts, and actions.
Do you know the gospel correctly? Or are you holding to a different gospel?
Our life depends on it. Because a correct understanding of the gospel leads us to correct living if we are truly in Christ and indwelt by the Spirit of God. But how about those who have a correct theology about the gospel? Possible bang mali ang kanilang pamumuhay?
Certainly, there are intelligent Christians na kabisado ang details ng gospel but failed to live a Christian life. Knowledge alone is not enough, faith alone, in Christ alone, in Spirit alone, by grace alone lang. I will say this, true knowledge and belief in the gospel is transforming, sanctifying, and bears fruits of the Spirit.
Thus, a person na walang bungang maganda, even though alam na alam niya ang bawat pahina ng bible is not a genuine disciple of Christ.
Thirdly, since the gospel is central to our life and practice, May warning si Paul to those who will distort it or preach another gospel that causes damage to the true gospel.
Warning to Gospel-Deceivers
The word “accursed” is “anathema” in Greek. It means; “a person or thing doomed to destruction, to be slain, without hope of being redeemed.” Sa madaling salita, Paul sternly warns the Galatian-Christians that whoever among them ang magpreach ng ibang gospel, “sumpain” ito or “let him be dead, cut-off from God, be destroyed.” Not even the angels or anyone (v.8) should not add nor omit any single truth from the gospel of Christ.
In our today’s culture, there are many professing Christians who pervert and distort the gospel. They coat it with beautiful earthly promises and reject the truths about the person and works of Christ at the same time. Such as these are, prosperity gospel preachers, and teachers of health and wealth and materialism.
Problema ito lalo na sa Pilipinas dahil mahirap na bansa tayo, marami pa naman gustong yumaman at umangat-angat sa buhay, sino bang hindi? Pero isa itong trap na ginagamit ng diablo to lure many people, sadly many Christians are being deceived.
Meron pang isa, charity gospel. Na nagtuturo sa marami na kailangan na gumawa ka ng mabuti sa tao para tayo ay maligtas, or simply by works. Ang pagtulong sa tao ay “bunga” ng gospel na na-received natin. So, we need to be clear on this.
They preach only about the benefits of the gospel to attract people into the kingdom of God like “peace”, “happiness”, “joy”, or “comfortable life.” But when the tough time comes at nakita nila na ang Christian ay hindi biro at puno ng challenges sa life by believing the true gospel, nako, ayawan na, they might say “dami pala persecution sa Christian life, may bible study pa, small group weekly, prayer meeting, tapos sabi ni Jesus “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me?” Hirap naman, ayawan na.”
That’s the danger of distorting the gospel.
The good news is that marami pading genuine Christians who truly desire to preach and are committed to preaching the gospel faithfully and without sugar-coating it. And I believe isa ka dito. Be courageous, preach the word, preach the good news, and rely on the Spirit of God as we preach the message of salvation to all people.
Conclusion
As a Christian, we must be vigilant and intentional in knowing and understanding the nature of the gospel. For this is the power of God unto salvation in Christ’s name. This is also the glory of God.
The challenge is this, to stand and contend for the gospel. It’s about time to review our hearts and start studying again the gospel. Because there are many false preachers out there and they are so eager to propagate the false gospel that doesn’t even save kahit langgam sa kaning lamig.
There is no hope for the false teachers unless they repent and turn to Jesus Christ genuinely.
Just like the apostle Paul, let’s be strong in the gospel, defend it and stand for it and live it faithfully.
God is also aware that some people in the faith are still growing in the knowledge of the gospel. Let’s be encouraged and help our new brothers and sisters in the Lord. Teach, train, and equip them so that they will not easily be deceived by the proponents of a false gospel.
You and I are both sometimes consumed by so many things, but God is good. It is a reminder for us to Stand and Contend for the gospel of Christ our Lord and Savior.
May the gospel of Jesus Christ grow in us more deeply, greatly, and evidently by the grace and mercy of God in Christ Jesus Amen.