as we have said before, so now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. [galatians 1:9]
paul, so emphatic about what he has said in galatians 1:8 and in his preaching ministry to the galatians, repeats how serious it is that the true gospel be preserved, those who preach a contrary gospel are accursed-”anathema”-eternally condemned!
in our day, we have many gospels contrary to true gospel being preached: the following are gospels contrary to the true gospel–don’t fall into the trap of these false gospels, they are anything but good news!
the prosperity gospel: “God’s purpose is to give you your reward, your best life now. if you have suffering, you don’t have enough faith. you will have riches and health now, if you have enough faith.” –let this be accursed!
the Word says:
“but woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation “woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. [luke 6:24-26]
count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [james 1:2-3]
the gospel of self actualization: “God’s purpose is to glorify you, life is about finding yourself, it is about making you the center” –let this be accursed!
the Word says:
for the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. [deuteronomy 4:24]
i have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer i who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [galatians 2:20]
i appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship [romans 12:1]
the gospel of many gods: “there really isn’t just one God, just believe in a higher power, all roads lead the to the same thing–you do you!” –let this be accursed!
the Word says:
“hear, o israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might [deuteronomy 6:4-5]
thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. no one comes to the Father except through me. [john 14:5-6]
there is only one true Gospel!
God created a perfect world, sin entered into the sin through one man, adam. we all are sinful and have the stain of sin upon us. the world was cursed, but God had a plan from the beginning to reconcile to himself a people for his own Glory.
He sent his own perfect Son, Jesus Christ to humble himself and to be born into poverty and pain, to live a perfect life we could not live and die a perfect death, bearing the wrath of God so that we do not have to. after his death, he rose to new life, defeating death and sin and is seated at the right hand of the Father. he sent the Spirit to us to cause us to believe in him and obey his commands. Christ is coming back, and will restore his Father’s kingdom and will make all things new! this is the good news, the Gospel we live in now and look forward to—there is no better news than worshiping God for all eternity, our future with God is infinitely Glorious! live in this good news!
~conor eastman