Accursed?

Mac's Perspective on the Intricacies of God’s Amazing Grace

Friday April 24, 2009

Dear Fellow Travelers,
As I review Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia, there can be no mistaking his mission and purpose—to establish for both Jews and Gentiles, that there is but one, true gospel; that any “gospel” that is not in full agreement with the gospel he preached, is in fact no gospel at all. Listen to his own words: “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; on-ly there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1: 6-9). By the way, his use of the word “accursed” means “eternal separation from God.”
There are several conclusions we can draw from these verses; however, in my opinion, this one stands out among all the rest: it would behoove each of us to be certain that we clearly understand and believe the gospel that Paul preached. If his words are true, then any addition or subtraction to the gospel he preached, creates nothing more or less than a distortion of the gospel of Christ, aka, heresy. Paul felt so strongly about this that he warned his readers with this very stern admonition: But even though we or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed (vs. 8).
Sadly, most modern-day church-goers are easily deceived, just as were the church-goers of the region of Galatia, during Paul’s time. Even more sad, is the fact that most modern-day church-goers simply receive whatever is “preached” to them, without ever at-tempting to validate its truth by holding it against the plumb line of the gospel Paul preached. Unfortunately, most modern-day church goers have very little knowledge of the one, true gospel, or so it seems.
All I know is this: Paul was rather adamant regarding the fact that there is but one, true gospel, and those believers, be they Jew or Gentile, who would choose to attempt to add anything to it—circumcision, observance of holy days, eating “clean” foods, et al—were in fact falling from grace and making Christ of no benefit to them (see chapter 5).
You really should give this some serious thought, at least that is Paul’s opinion--