Galatians CHAPTER 1 PAUL, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, to the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 To whom be glory for ever and ever.
6 I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel to you than that you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus 13 For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
20 Now the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22 And was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preaches the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me.
*** Does God "hate the sin but love the sinner"? See 1 Timothy 1:8–10 "Questions & Objections."
*** 1:3 Many who don't know the Savior claim to have made their "peace with God." But there is no peace with God without accepting the grace of God, which is given only to those who repent.
1:4 Jesus willingly "gave" Himself for the sins of the world. No one took His life from Him.
1:6 These are strong words from the same apostle who wrote the "love chapter" of 1 Corinthians 13. His words reveal his passion for the truth and his knowledge of the consequences of preaching "a different gospel." This should make the gospel preacher strive to make sure his hearers understand that salvation is by grace alone.
Any message saying that we must add anything to the work of the cross to be saved is another gospel.
"Satan, the God of all dissension, stirreth up daily new sects, and last of all, which of all other I should never have foreseen or once suspected, he has raised up a sect such as teach ... that men should not be terrified by the Law, but gently exhorted by the preaching of the grace of Christ." Martin Luther 1:8 "Avoid a sugared gospel as you would shun sugar of lead. Seek that gospel which rips up and tears and cuts and wounds and hacks and even kills, for that is the gospel that makes alive again. And when you have found it, give good heed to it. Let it enter into your inmost being. As the rains soaks into the ground, so pray the Lord to let His gospel soak into your soul." Charles Spurgeon 1:16 God also wants to reveal His Son in us. We can do this by following in Paul's steps and preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.