Distorted Gospel
Grace Plus Anything Is No Longer Grace
SCRIPTURE:
Galatians 1:6-7 (CSB) - I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -- not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
OBSERVATION:
How does the gospel become distorted (CSB) or perverted (NKJV)? These two words are harsh. They bring to mind things that are not good. But that was the point Paul was trying to make by using the word perverted.
Perverted means – Corrupt (adulterated or debased by a change from an original or correct condition)
Distorted means - Altered from a true, natural, or normal state, shape, or condition.
Both words lead us to the same conclusion. They had left the truth for a lie.
The Book of Galatians was one of Paul’s most passionate books. His tone is evident from the beginning. In all the other books, Paul begins with praise or thanksgiving for the church and what God was doing. In Galatians, Paul gets to the heart of the matter quickly.
The Book of Galatians is the only letter to the churches that was not addressed to a single church. It was addressed to the churches of Galatia (Asia Minor).
Galatians 1:6-7 (CSB) - I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -- not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
OBSERVATION:
How does the gospel become distorted (CSB) or perverted (NKJV)? These two words are harsh. They bring to mind things that are not good. But that was the point Paul was trying to make by using the word perverted.
Perverted means – Corrupt (adulterated or debased by a change from an original or correct condition)
Distorted means - Altered from a true, natural, or normal state, shape, or condition.
Both words lead us to the same conclusion. They had left the truth for a lie.
The Book of Galatians was one of Paul’s most passionate books. His tone is evident from the beginning. In all the other books, Paul begins with praise or thanksgiving for the church and what God was doing. In Galatians, Paul gets to the heart of the matter quickly.
The Book of Galatians is the only letter to the churches that was not addressed to a single church. It was addressed to the churches of Galatia (Asia Minor).
The church had become infected by Judaizers who taught that salvation would only come to those who kept the Law of Moses… Paul saw them leaving the truth of the gospel and adding legalism to it, watering down the grace of God. – Chuck Smith.
Paul was quick to call it another gospel… it was not good news; it was troubling… it was a corrupted, altered form of the truth of the true gospel of Jesus Christ… a distortion of the gospel of Christ.
Paul said they were quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and were turning to a different gospel… They were not turning to God, but AWAY from Him. They were not turning to the grace of God, but AWAY from it… That is what distorted and perverted means. Not towards, but AWAY from the truth of GRACE!
APPLICATION:
Grace plus anything is not grace… It is grace alone. We did nothing to deserve or earn God’s Unmerited Favor (Grace).
Ephesians 2:4-9 (NKJV) - But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
You are saved by grace… You CANNOT and will NEVER be able to make Him love you more! Walk in grace today… When we do, we will find the freedom to change and be changed by the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for the grace You have given me! I am not worthy, but You are. Thank you for loving me despite who I am, and for allowing me to change through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul said they were quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and were turning to a different gospel… They were not turning to God, but AWAY from Him. They were not turning to the grace of God, but AWAY from it… That is what distorted and perverted means. Not towards, but AWAY from the truth of GRACE!
APPLICATION:
Grace plus anything is not grace… It is grace alone. We did nothing to deserve or earn God’s Unmerited Favor (Grace).
Ephesians 2:4-9 (NKJV) - But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
You are saved by grace… You CANNOT and will NEVER be able to make Him love you more! Walk in grace today… When we do, we will find the freedom to change and be changed by the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for the grace You have given me! I am not worthy, but You are. Thank you for loving me despite who I am, and for allowing me to change through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The moment we add anything to grace as a condition for salvation, we haven't improved the gospel — we've abandoned it.
Posted in 09 - Galatians
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