Jesus tells us in Matthew what a man who has his faith built upon a strong foundation looks like. It is a foundation that when tested, stands and does not buckle under the pressures that come up against it. Matthew 7:24-27 says specifically: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” The Galatians were facing pressure from the Jews from Jerusalem, who were still holding on to some of the traditions of the Old Testament, one being the requirement to be circumcised. They were Jewish converts who still insisted that the laws of Moses must still be followed, and essentially undoing the law of grace that Christ introduced through his death and resurrection. Moving them away from grace that saves, to the law that condemned all men, because no one could fulfill the requirements. They gave way to the pressure that was put on them, and walked away from grace, to pick up the burden of the law that they were no longer required to live under. When we are not firmly planted in the Gospel, when we are not firmly planted in grace, we will be moved. Either by doctrine or by circumstance. We know that God will never leave us nor forsake us, as said in Hebrews 13:5. But when life gets tough, and God goes silent, it’s easy to question if he is there, if he’s listening to our prayers, and if he even cares. The scriptures have clearly already answered all of these things, but pain and suffering will have you doubt and question. Even John The Baptist did so in Matthew chapter 11:3. 

Paul establishes that men did not put him into his position or into the office of Apostleship at the beginning Galatians. He was not appointed by Men, but appointed by God. If the decision had been left with Men, he would have never been approved. Paul’s history would have disqualified him for ministry by Men. He was a persecutor of the Church. He persecuted the Church relentlessly. They would have never approved of his witness or his ministry. It’s a great thing God does not seek the approval of Men. If he did, many of us would not be where we are. God chose us in spite of our history. In spite of what others may have to stay. He was commissioned to preach the Gospel amongst the gentiles. The Apostles would not have been on board with that. As they were only preaching to those of the house of Israel at that time. Not yet receiving the revelation of the mystery of the Gospel. That it would be opened up to all men far and wide. God was doing a new thing. And he was using the most disqualified person in the flesh, in order to do it.

There are several ways men will try and move you to another gospel. One way is pressure. The Jews who accepted the new faith, but still hung on to the old traditions under the law, were applying a great deal of pressure to the Galatian Church. And through that pressure, their firmness (gentiles) did not hold up. Maybe to prevent conflict and dissatisfaction amongst the Jews who still held great influence in the area of religion amongst men. One thing we must know, is that standing for Christ, will invite conflict and persecution. If you cannot hold firm on that front, you will never be able to stand. We are to be peaceful, but at the sake of the truth. There can be no peace in the spirit, where there is no truth. Do not seek to have peace with men, but rather, seek diligently to have peace with God. Who will at the appointed time end the conflict once and for all. Another way in which we are moved away from the truth unto another Gospel, is when we esteem others above God. Including ourselves. We can move towards another Gospel, when that other Gospel is accepting of our life choices. The Gospel of Jesus Christ requires some tough sacrifice on our part. A separation from the things we love at times, but another Gospel may allow us to keep those things, while still honoring God. But this is foolish. We see this with Abraham. God is looking for us to sacrifice all that is most important to us in order to gain him. It does not mean he will take away your son or your spouse, but in our hearts, we must put him first, and be willing to sacrifice the things we love, as well as the things he hates! 

We must be willing to sacrifice our sexual immoral behaviors, our unforgiveness, our vindictiveness, our prejudice, our bias, our violent thoughts, our self centeredness, our pride, our hateful words, our lies and manipulation, our greediness, our excessive materialism, our covetousness, our envy of others, our jealousy’s; all things that all men\women practice in their lives at one time or another. The Gospel of Jesus Christ calls for us to lay these things aside. But “another gospel” will make allowances for some of these things. I will give you a clear real life example of this. There was a married couple who had a son. They were faith church goers for years. They all went as a family. When their son got to be of age, a teenager, he went to his parents and told them that he was gay. The parents went to the pastor of their church to discuss it with him. Their Pastor told them that what he was doing was sin. Thank God. Upon hearing their Pastor’s stance in regards to their son’s decision, they decided to leave that Church. They found another Church to attend as a family, who’s stance on homosexuality was different. They turned to “another gospel”.  

But Paul puts it plainly. Any man or angel, bring another Gospel to you other than what we preached, let them be accursed. Accursed means to be condemned to destruction, or excommunicated from the community of believers. He did not view it as a minor manner of disagreement. It is much more than that. It is a matter of life and death. So Paul is bold in his letter to them. Driving home the importance of not adding or taking away from what Christ did. It is perfect how it is, able to save soul and spirit. Paul’s intent, was for them to seek Christ is all his grace and in all his truth, for the end to be their salvation. But those who bring “another gospel”, care nothing of those whose ears are turned to it. In fact, they seek to fulfill the lust and desires in their own hearts. What good does it do those, to lead them away from Christ? What does it gain them? They gain death in the spirit. But those leading them astray gain much in the flesh. They are rewarded in this life with their deceitful words. Their gospel preaches that it is the will of God for you to be rich, and if it is not said with their words, it is certainly said with their lifestyles. Do not think that God is against comfortability, but the lust of wealth and money is the root of all evil. And presenting another gospel allows those who peddle it, a pathway to fulfill the burning desire for lust inside their loins. 

Burn for righteousness. Burn for truth. And it will set you free from all lust that binds you. So this is not a matter of disagreement, it is a matter of disagreement, it is a matter of salvation. It is the difference between being in the book of life, and being outside of it. He is fighting for the Church that he helped establish, as Christ fights for us, as our advocate who sits on the right hand of God. 

Paul did not immediately go up into Jerusalem after his convergence. The Bible says he went to Arabia and abode there for 3 years before going up. It is in the Arabian desert, in solitude, where he was thoroughly taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, from Christ, through the spirit. Galatians 1:16-18 says: “To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days“.

I am pointing this out, because the pressure that the Jews put on the Galatian Church to fall back onto the traditions of the Jews, would be the same pressure applied to Pau, in an attempt to get him to retreat back into the old and failed system that condemned us all. When we give God our heart, he will separate you, and firmly cement himself inside your spirit. He will make your heart the good soil, and build in you a sturdy foundation. So when the storms of life come against it, it will not prevail, Matthew 7:24. When another gospel comes up against it, it will not prevail. When the disappointments of life come up against it, it will not prevail. When the setbacks of life come up against it, it will not prevail. When the bad news of life comes up against it, it will not prevail. So Paul has been firmly fitted for this calling. Firmly fitted for this letter. With the full confidence in who Jesus Christ is. Do not let the changes in society change the gospel of Jesus Christ in your heart. Do not let the pressures of family, friends, a spouse, co-workers, acquaintances, neighbors, or social media, persuade you into accepting another gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul is gone. So is Peter, and James, and John, and Mark. There will be no more letters sent.

Each man and church, in this dispensation, are now going their own way. So we must be even more diligent with our hearts. But thank God for the holy spirit. That applies correction to those who love the truth. And by Gods grace, the truth will set you free, from all the other gospels, but one.