Beware of Contrary Gospels (Gal. 1:6-9)

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
(Galatians 1:6-9, NASB)

The gospel is this: Jesus Christ—God the Son—came to earth and put on flesh. He preached about God the Father’s love, grace, and mercy. He took the sin of all mankind on Himself when He offered His own life as a sacrifice. Then He conquered death itself when He rose from the grave. He lives today, and salvation comes through the acceptance of His sacrifice and the commitment of our lives to the will of the Father.

So many so-called Christian churches are preaching a different gospel. If you’re good enough (whatever that means), you’ll make it to heaven. If you just believe that God exists (or some “higher power”), you’re going to be okay. If you make it to the occasional church service, you can check off your list that you did your “Christian duty.”

Paul made his feelings about those who are “preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received.” They aren’t just wrong; they’re “accursed.”

This is serious, folks. And I believe one of the reasons he was so adamant about this, is that those who preach a contrary gospel aren’t just wrong for themselves. No, they’re guilty of dragging others away from God’s truth.

It’s heartbreaking to see the gospel—a beautiful story of God’s grace and redemption—so distorted. It’s even more heartbreaking to think of souls that have been lost by contrary gospels.

What can we do? We can share God’s plan of salvation—the true story—with as many people as God brings across our paths. We can lovingly guide those who’ve heard those contrary gospels.

We can make certain we always speak truth.