The Big Idea (No Other Gospel #3)

In writing an essay or preparing a sermon, one sometimes begins by stating a Proposition. A proposition is a sentence that gives a summary of the entire topic--and then everything which follows is just a development of that original statement. The proposition is the “Big Idea”; the main point, a brief encapsulation of the entire work. And that concept is important for Galatians. While Paul's approach to writing is notoriously convoluted, Galatians is actually a fairly tightly structured book. Over and over through the letter, Paul will lay out his proposition and then go back and develop it in the next several verses. And in Galatians 1:6-9 we have the proposition for the entire epistle.

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. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Here we have Paul's proposition. The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown gives a simple label for this section of Galatians: “No Other Gospel.” (422) That is what Paul is saying here and in Galatians as a whole.

Notice that there is a polemical note here. Paul isn't just observing some general fact, but something specific. “I marvel” that is, I am amazed, surprised, “that ye are so soon removed from him that called you.” The door hadn't swung shut behind Paul before false teachers showed up in Galatia and began spreading their own version of the gospel. And it wasn't just that false teachers had come, but that by in large, the church seemed to be listening to them. Philippians also deals with false teachers, teachers who seem to have had a similar gospel, but Paul's tone is different there, as that is just a warning. The church seems to have been standing strong against the false teachers. Not so at Galatia. It is clear throughout that the false teachers had made quite a headway in Galatia. We can't say that the false teachers had won, but they were definitely winning. The phrase “ye are so soon removed” can be translated in the present tense as ongoing action: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you.” (RSV)

So this is the context. Paul had preached the gospel at Galatia but now the people were being turned away to false teachers who were preaching their own version of the gospel. They were troubling the Galatians with their false teaching and false accusations, bring confusion and uncertainty. What they were doing was perverting the One True Gospel. The word translated pervert literally means to turn across, change, transform--the idea being, they were trying to change the gospel into something else.

But there is only one gospel, made by God, revealed by God, and no man can change it. Verse 8 uses very strong language to express the depth of Paul's thought regarding the gospel: “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.” There are two ideas here.

First, Paul is stating the strength of his own conviction in the gospel. He didn't leave himself any wiggle room. He didn't say: this is the gospel I preached, but of course, I might be wrong. There was no fine print: subject to change. The gospel was a finalized product. Paul is basically putting himself under oath, placing himself under a curse if he should ever desert the gospel and preach a contrary idea. He is burning all his bridges behind him.

The second idea is this: the gospel was made and revealed by God and God doesn't change. Therefore, the gospel will never change. There will never be another gospel. It doesn't matter what even the best man says; it doesn't matter even what an angel says--there is only one gospel. We should give every due reverence to the leaders of the church and to those with more knowledge and Christian experience; we should give every attention to the personal revelations which we receive from God as we walk with him; and if an angel should ever appear to you with a message you should obviously treat that message with respect. But none of that should ever be allowed to contradict the gospel which we have received because God will never contradict His word. In God's Word, we have a sure revelation which nothing can change or alter. Apostle and preachers, angels and visions--they will all come and go, but “The Bible stands, like a rock undaunted.”

The false teachers were teaching a different gospel, a Judaizing gospel, a gospel of legalism or, possibly, covenantal nomism--teaching that salvation came through following the Jewish law and being a part of the Jewish covenant. Some today still teach that salvation comes through doing good deeds or being part of a given community. But that is not the gospel which God gave and which the church believed, and so no matter who may teach it and what miracles and marvels may seem to attest it, it is a false gospel and those who teach it are liable to the judgment of God.

This, then, is the central idea of Galatians. There is only one gospel--the gospel of salvation through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ--and the church is in error whenever it strays from and believes something else. The people of Galatia were in danger of losing this truth which is why Paul made a point of writing this letter to them, reminding them that there is no other gospel.