Posts Tagged ‘another gospel’

Scripture reading for September 14th: Galatians 1:1-24

Paul was an apostle who was sent by Jesus Christ and God the Father to minister to Gentiles.  Paul had ministered in Galatia and planted churches there among Gentiles.  Certain false teachers from among the Jewish believers had come along later and tried to persuade these Gentile believers that they needed to follow the Jewish custom of circumcision in order to be saved.  Paul wrote this letter after his first missionary journey and the experience of the council at Jerusalem to encourage the church to trust in Christ’s sacrifice alone to save them.  (Acts 15:28)

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by 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.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  As we have already said, so now I say again:  If anybody is preaching to you a Gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:6-9)  Paul was emphatic, twice repeating the curse on those changing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  No one can change what God has done.  No one can add to Christ’s work on the cross without taking away from the Gospel!  Not even angels can change or add to it!

Paul did not make up the Gospel nor did he get it from some of the other disciples.  He got it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.  (Galatians 1:12)  Paul was a persecutor of the church of Jesus Christ and zealous for the traditions of the fathers of Judaism.   But God revealed Jesus Christ to Paul and called him to preach to the Gentiles.  (Acts 9:5,15)  Paul went immediately to Arabia and then to Damascus.  He spent three years there before going to Jerusalem to visit with Peter and James.  These apostles had heard about his conversion and preaching and now got to meet this man.  They thanked God for what He had done. (Galatians 1:18-24)

Paul’s Gospel message came directly from Christ, not even from the apostles James and Peter.  The Gospel cannot be changed, only preached to those in need of salvation.   Do you know the true Gospel?

Dear Friends,

Welcome to another day of rest!  This cycle of working 6 and resting one day is really a gift from God for us!  God knows that we really need rest!  The rest we need is from trying to work for His approval!  In Christ, we are completely approved and accepted in the beloved!  Let’s enter this day fully resting in Christ!

In order to complete our reading this year, we must read for 5 more Sundays!  In our devotion, I have picked out several key scriptures to meditate on today.  May you find God speaking to you through His Word!

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4-5

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.  Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”"  “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That’s why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test? 2nd Corinthians 13:5

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2nd Corinthians 13:14

Resting in His matchless love,  Pastor John