“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
Paul wrote his letter to the Galatian churches not long after he presented the gospel to them. In the short time after he had seen them, there were people who wanted to make adjustments to the gospel Paul had preached. They were teaching a gospel that was “no longer … wholly and utterly dependent upon grace” (Derek Thomas, 2011).
John Piper summarizes the argument that Paul makes in Galatians 1: “Paul is arguing ‘Christ alone is the sum and total of your right standing with God. Don’t leave Him as your supreme treasure’” (2017).
If the very first hearers of the good news of the gospel were inclined to stray from its truths not long after learning of it, we can be sure that centuries upon centuries later, the same thing has continued to happen. People still are drawn to massaging the words of Scripture to fit their own politically correct, self-affirming, and rules-driven theologies.
Turn away from changing the gospel in any way to give us a more prominent role in our salvation or to give others what we think they would want to hear.
John Piper summarizes the argument that Paul makes in Galatians 1: “Paul is arguing ‘Christ alone is the sum and total of your right standing with God. Don’t leave Him as your supreme treasure’” (2017).
If the very first hearers of the good news of the gospel were inclined to stray from its truths not long after learning of it, we can be sure that centuries upon centuries later, the same thing has continued to happen. People still are drawn to massaging the words of Scripture to fit their own politically correct, self-affirming, and rules-driven theologies.
Turn away from changing the gospel in any way to give us a more prominent role in our salvation or to give others what we think they would want to hear.
Scripture Focus
Galatians 1:1-9
Insight
“If you believe what you like in the gospel and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” (Augustine, 426 A.D.)
Bible In A Year
- 1 Samuel 26-27
- Psalm 133
- Galatians 3-4
