‘Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?’
Galatians 4:16
Nothing has changed since the day the apostle Paul wrote Galatians. No one wants to hear the truth.
In Galatians 4:16, the apostle Paul expresses his concern for the church in Galatia (and for us today). Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote this passage to address a pressing issue: false teachers had infiltrated the congregation, leading believers astray with a distorted and counterfeit gospel. This warning holds significance for us today, reminding us to be vigilant against false teachings that seek to distort the true gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
To understand the gravity of Paul’s words in Galatians 4:16, we can refer to Galatians chapters 1 and 2 and Acts chapter 15. In these passages, Paul recounts his encounters with the Jerusalem church leaders, including Peter, James, and John. Where God instructed Paul to go to the Jerusalem church to set them straight on what the gospel will be moving forward. They affirmed the message (Acts 15:11) Paul preached—the gospel of grace through faith in Christ alone in the finished work of the cross alone apart from the law and temple worship. However, false teachers infiltrated the Galatian church (spy’s from the Jerusalem church) challenging Paul’s authority and perverting the true gospel, the gospel by which all mankind will be judged.
‘in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my (the gospel of grace that the ascended and glorified Lord Jesus revealed to Paul, not the gospel of the kingdom) gospel.’
Romans 2:16
Paul’s purpose in writing Galatians was to reaffirm the authenticity of the gospel he preached (the gospel of the grace of God) and to correct the false teachings that threatened the Galatian believers (which was that Paul’s converts could not be saved by faith alone in the finished work but they need to keep the law, temple worship and be circumcised). He passionately defends the truth that salvation comes through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, apart from any works or adherence to the law. Read Acts 15 and Galatians 2 for the details.
This serves as a timely reminder for us today. We must remain discerning, guarding ourselves against false teachings and distortions of the true gospel. Let us hold steadfastly to the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4), embracing the fact that our salvation rests solely on the finished work of Christ. We must be rooted in sound doctrine and truth, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and protect us from the allure of counterfeit gospels.
As we are witnessing unprecedented false teaching and the prophesied apostasy of the church, we must test everything against the truth of God’s Word. By diligently studying Scripture daily, relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and remaining faithful to the true gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), we can navigate the spiritual challenges and the doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1) coming in like a tsunami and stand firm in the unchanging truth of Christ.
Takeaway
The takeaway is a warning from the apostle Paul. That there is only one gospel that saves mankind today and deviating from the one true gospel will bring condemnation.
‘But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.’
Galatians 1:8-9
100% Unashamed of the gospel of grace.
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