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Articles
A Perverted Gospel
We read from the pen of Paul, in Gal.1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Let’s notice a few points from this text of scripture.
First, even in Paul’s day they had trouble with false teaching even as we have the problem in our days. What these proponents of error did, was not come up with a completely new gospel (though some religious teachers have done so); But to take the old Jerusalem gospel and pervert it, i.e. to twist, to bend, to distort the true gospel of Christ. People are ever perverting the gospel of Christ to fit their thinking and desires. It may be that the gospel "steps on their toes" when it is taught in truth and simplicity. So they look for a teacher to scratch their ears, as Paul said in 2 Tim.4:3-4. Paul said that even if an angel from heaven should come and preach something different than that which they had been taught and received, don’t accept it; for such will cause one to be accursed or damned.
Notice also that our text speaks about "that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ." Which is to say that they had fallen from grace as Paul would later say in the book of Galatians, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." ch.5:4. Two times, Paul points out that to preach a perverted gospel will cause one to be accursed. Now this does not mean that you are going to go to heaven anyway. It means to receive damnation and condemnation of the Lord.
As a congregation of God’s people, we should ever expect and demand that we have sound preaching; for this is the only kind of teaching that can save us if we obey it. We have too many in the world, (and some in the church) that want their ears scratched, and we have too many that are willing to do the itching. As the wise man said, "buy the truth and sell it not" Prov.23:23. Let us take serious the words of inspiration that was recorded by Paul, and abide safely in the harbor of truth!
