Paul’s letter to the Galatians exposes the heresy of a works righteousness, which is that system of belief that supposes men can earn their way to God’s good graces, a delusion that Paul dismantles in his usual methodical manner.
“…The Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age…” Galatians 1:3-4 Paul says, Jesus Christ delivers men, but men deny the scripture when they add to Jesus work with works of their own. Replacing the work of Christ for the forgiveness of sins with self-righteousness has become a teaching in many churches.
The greatest evil in the world attacks the truth of God and replaces it with a lie, so men will not know the truth and be saved. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16
Gospel truth is the instrument God uses to save men; the devil knows to corrupt the gospel is to corrupt the means by which men are saved. For this reason, when Paul referred to false teachers he said, they should be accursed (incapable of being redeemed), and then he repeated himself because he knew the Galatians believers would think they misunderstood him. Galatians 1:8-9
Paul valued the souls of men so highly that he opposed all false teachers who would mislead men by preaching the wrong way of salvation, be it legalism or license. Jesus Christ died to deliver us from this present evil age, which includes the teachings of deceivers, charlatans, and false prophets.
Every Christian should feel strongly about the means by which men are saved (the gospel), and do everything in their power to safe guard it.
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