Turning to a Different Gospel

After reading through Galatians again, the following question came to mind, How many people today are turning to a different gospel? Paul starts out this book stating his astonishment at the people of his time ‘turning to a different gospel’ (Galatians 1:6). This was involving the whole circumcision issue. Thinking the people had come to a right understanding that circumcision was to no avail, Paul finds this not to be the case. He even tells of an incident where he had to publicly rebuke Peter, “For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:12-14).

Paul goes on to say, “..we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

He reaffirms the fact that circumcision is of no avail, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6), and further on in verses 15-16, “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” Nothing that man can do outwardly is of any account. In our day and age this would mean such things as ‘making a decision’, praying a special prayer, walking an aisle, or being baptized. It matters not whether we have done any one or all of these things- IF we have not had an inward change of heart- having been made a new creation, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In Colossians 2:11 we read, “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ..” Romans 2:29 reads, “circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.” Circumcision of the heart is when God by His Spirit gives us a new heart, replacing the old hardened one that had once been dead to the things of the Spirit, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 26:36).

These passages make clear that there is nothing we can do outwardly to achieve salvation. Our salvation comes through faith alone, by grace alone and not by anything we have done or ever could do. There must be an inward change of heart. Evidence to show this change comes about through recognition of our need of a Savior, and confession of our sins, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). As ones who have been born again of the Spirit we will live a repentant lifestyle, and we must “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

We must understand that any form of outward change counts for nothing, if it is not accompanied by an inward change of heart that leads to obedience. Paul affirms once again that, “..neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God (1 Corinthians 7:19). May we not be found ‘turning to a different gospel’, which is any message that preaches anything other than trusting in Christ’s righteousness alone for our salvation.