GALATIANS 1:6-9
Vol.4. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1931, p.276). It means a different kind of gospel that presents...
• a different Jesus
• a different grace
• a different way to be saved
• a different God
• a different picture of God’s love
But note what Scripture declares: the gospel to which the Galatians were turning was not another gospel. There is no other
gospel; there is only one true gospel by which men can become acceptable to God, and that is the gospel of God Himself re-
vealed in the death of His Son, even “the grace of Christ” (v.6).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn.3:16).
“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal
life” (Jn.6:68).
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall
die in your sins” (Jn.8:24).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified”
(1 Cor.2:2).
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor.3:11).

3. The believers were following those who twisted the gospel of Christ. They were following false teachers. Note what
it was that made the teachers false teachers: a perverting of the gospel. The word “pervert” (metastrepsai) means to turn
about, to change completely, to distort. They were taking the gospel of God’s love and grace as demonstrated in His Son, Je-
sus Christ, and changing it. The false teachers claimed to be Christians, followers of Christ. They even believed with Paul...
• that God did love the world and send His Son into the world.
• that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who did actually come to earth.
• that Jesus Christ did die and arise from the dead.
However, the false teachers were adding to and taking away from the gospel, twisting its meaning and making it say
something entirely different from the Scripture Paul preached. They distorted the gospel by saying...
a. That God did show His love for the world by sending His Son, but He sent His Son in particular for the
religious person (the Jew and the religionist). They were saying that God loves the world, but He especially
loves the people who live religious lives. (Note how this makes God show favoritism and partiality and
opens the door for caste systems and prejudice.)
b. That Jesus Christ did come to earth; however, it was not to secure a perfect righteousness for men, but to
show men how to live a good life that pleases God and merits God’s approval.
c. That Jesus Christ did die for man; however, He did not die for man’s sin, but to show man how he should
be so committed to God that he would die for God’s cause.
d. That the death of Jesus Christ is not sufficient by itself; it cannot stand alone; it is not enough to make man
acceptable to God. More is needed than the raw love of God and the pure grace of Christ.
e. That a person must undergo the ritual that had been the main ritual of believers down through the
centuries: circumcision (church membership, baptism, etc.).
f. That a person must work to keep the law of God and certain church ceremonies and rituals, rules and
regulations.

Note how devastating the false teaching was: believers were troubled, that is, disturbed, bewildered, perplexed, confused.
As pointed out above, they were not only turning away from the gospel, but from God Himself and from the glorious grace of
Christ (v.6).

Thought 1. Note a shocking fact: how close false teaching within the church is to the truth! How a little addition
here and a little subtraction there distorts the purity of the gospel! How diligently we must guard against adding our
own ideas to the gospel of God.

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach
men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt.5:19).
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves” (Mt.7:15).
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast our devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Mt.7:22-
23).
“In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”
(Mt.15:9).
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven
against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go
in” (Mt.23:13).
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