DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE TRUE GOSPEL

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE TRUE GOSPEL

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6)

Paul had traveled throughout the area of Galatia in his missionary journeys preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel that he preached was salvation was a free gift from God received through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross. As he went throughout the region, he was continually dogged by Jews who insisted that the Gentile believers should observe the Old Testament Mosaic laws in addition to their faith in Christ.

Now it seems that the Judaizers had convinced these believers in Galatia that they should adhere to Jewish laws and customs. They had been turned away from the Gospel of Grace. Paul rebutted these teachings, saying that this was a different Gospel than what he preached. Indeed, he said that it was not a gospel at all. It is not good news if I have to earn my salvation.

Just suppose that I gave you a check for a million dollars as a gift. But then I added, "O yes, to get this gift, you also have to spell antidisestablishmentarianism backward." Then it would not be a free gift. It would be earned. The Gospel of Christ is one of grace. It cannot be bought or earned. If we have to buy our salvation by what we do, then it is not a Gospel of grace. Grace is free unmerited favor.

Even two centuries later, the same conflict is evident. There are those who teach that even though Christ died for our sins, that we need to add to His work of redemption on the Cross by our good works. This is not the Gospel of the Bible.

The Gospel is good news, but it is only good news if it is free. If we have to do something to buy our salvation with our works, then it is not grace.

As the hymn says, "Wonderful grace of our loving Lord. Freely bestowed on all who believe." I could never do enough or be good enough to earn or merit God's salvation. It's free.

Love, Dad