HeadTheology

Never in reading Galatians have I noticed Paul’s anger at the church in Galatia who were turning from the gospel. In it Paul speaks at some pretty strong words at least three times.

1. (1:9) He calls anyone who is preaching a new gospel (other than what Paul preached to them) accursed/anathema
-In essense Paul is saying if you don’t believe what I do then you are going to hell. There’s no comfortable way around this verse. If your salvation rests not in Christ alone and his imputed righteousness, but in Christ plus baptism, communion/eucharist; or Christ minus murder, adultery, suicide, homosexuality, alcohol, or any other law you want to replace here in ones life, then that is a false gospel. Do not take the above statement and run with it cause I do endorse baptism and communion and heartily disapprove of the other deeds. But get Paul’s point, those things have nothing to do with your standing before God if you have Christ.

2. (2:5) When it comes to the gospel he will not give an inch (of his friend’s skin)
-For the sake of the gospel Paul refused to have Titus (Paul’s uncircimcised Greek believing companion) to be circumcised I assume to prove and bring home the point that he knows salvation does not partly rest in whether a little skin is removed. Paul won’t budge, but keep in mind that this is the same Paul that said he will become all things to all men in order to save a few (1 Cor 9:22) and he also that had Timothy circumcised because of the Jews (Acts 16:3, no other explanation is given why so obviously the gospel wasn’t at stake). Obviously Paul is willing to give ground to be able to relate to people to share the gospel, but no compromise on the gospel and justification.

3. (4:12) He wants those that are preaching this Christ plus circumcision to emasculate themselves
-This is pretty plain, he’s like if your just going to take a piece why don’t you just go all the way and take it all off.

When was the last time that many preachers said that if anyone has a different gospel they will burn in hell, not that they wanted them to but they just stated the fact. Don’t think I’m snobbish, blame Paul or better yet blame God he is the ultimate author. Why doesn’t the church have the passion of Paul to call someone out when needed. I mean if Paul, the new apostle, can call out super apostle Peter when he screws up then doesn’t that give the average Christian the right to rebuke even the pastor or the pastor the largest giver in the church if their gospel is slipping (probably in private would be best first before one started throwing anathemas around but you get my point). It is only Christ and Christ Alone no addition or subtraction required for justification.