GALATIANS 1:6-9
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but un-
to him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor.5:15).
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned
with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb.2:9).
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he
appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb.9:28).
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pt.1:18-19).
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to
God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Pt.3:18).
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (1 Jn.3:5).
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay
down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn.3:16).
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the
prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
blood” (Rev.1:5).
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals the-
reof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue,
and people, and nation” (Rev.5:9).

2
(1:6-7) Gospel, False—False Teachers—Apostasy—Backsliding—Desertion: some persons turned to false gospels.
This is the subject of The Book of Galatians, the very reason Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia. Some false teachers
had joined the church, false teachers who did not believe in the gospel as proclaimed by Paul and the apostles. They were
adding to and taking away from the gospel of the Scriptures and attacking the minister. As a result, some believers were fol-
lowing the false teachers and turning to their false gospels. Paul warned the believers of the churches, and his warning was
direct and forceful.
1. The believers were deserting God, removing themselves away from God. The word “removed” (metatithesthe)
means to turn away, to change places, to transfer elsewhere. The tense of the verb is present which means the Galatians were
in the process of turning; they had not yet fully turned. There was still hope for them to repent and return to God. Note three
striking facts.
a. A person who turns away from the gospel is not turning away from a set of beliefs or principles, nor from a
church. The person is turning away from God Himself. It is God who loves us and saves us, not a set of
beliefs. It is God who personally calls us into the grace of Christ, not a message or a preacher. Therefore, to
turn away is to desert God Himself, the Person who has loved us enough to save us and to give us eternal
life in His Son, Jesus Christ.
b. The words “so soon” show how quickly people can be led away from God. The false teachers had appar
ently just joined the church and had impressive ability and charisma, so much so that they were almost
immediately accepted as teachers in the church. The result had been devastating: many were immediately
swayed by the force of their charisma, ability, ideas, and worldly wisdom.
c. The word “marvel” means astounded, astonished, surprised. Paul could hardly believe the fact, for the
Galatians had been grounded in the true gospel and had been growing in Christ. But here they were
turning away ever so quickly. The believers needed to be warned: they were treading on shaky ground. They
were turning away from and deserting God Himself.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Mt.24:12).
“They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these
have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away” (Lk.8:13).
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk.9:62).
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking
rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when
he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other
spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of
that man is worse than the first” (Lk.11:24-26).
“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye
again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”
(Gal.4:9).
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no plea-
sure in him” (Heb.10:38).
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love”
(Rev.2:4).

2. The believers were turning to another gospel, that is, to a false gospel. The word “another” (heteron) means a differ-
ent kind of gospel, not just a difference in emphasis or spirit (A.T. Robertson. Word Pictures in the New Testament,
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