S. Galatians 1:6-7 (NIV) 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
O. Paul is writing to churches he had previously planted in Asia Minor (Galatia) and he can hardly believe - he is surprised that these believers have turned away from the grace of the Lord to “another” form of gospel (good news) - which really wasn’t. He uses two different Greek words “heteros” and “allos”. Heteros refers to a gospel of a different kind It’s a qualitative difference and is of a different sort. Allos refers to a gospel of the same sort. John uses ther term “allos” when he writes about Jesus sending them another (allos) comforter - referring to the Holy Sirit and of the same kind (like Jesus) John 14:6-7.
These Galatian churches (believers) were being swayed by those who were still law keeping Jews (known as Judiazers). These “Judiazers” were teaching that people still needed to follow the Law (in addition to believing in Christ) for salvation. Paul lets them know that by adding “works” to God’s grace, they have actually set the Gospel of Christ aside and Christ died for nothing (Gal. 2:21).
A. It is so important to be “grounded” in the Word of God and to be on “solid” ground (compared to shifting sand where you never get good footing or traction and you’re always moving) as far as the Gospel of Jesus is concerned. We should not be swayed. We should grow in the grace of the Lord and have deep spiritual roots that anchors us and then allows us to enjoy the freedom that we have in Jesus Christ (Galatians 5).
P. Thank you Father for your Word today. Lead me to be an effective communicator and teacher of the Gospel of Jesus that those I teach, will develop deep and strong roots and not be easily swayed by the false teachings of others.
