"God's One And Only Gospel"

This teaching was throwing the churches in Galatia into confusion. What do we believe now, they were wondering? In verses 8-9, Paul tells them that this is a big deal. It’s such a big deal, that even if he, or anyone else teaches them any Gospel, other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone, even if an angel were to do that, then, “let him be eternally condemned,” he says. In other words, may that person be sent by God to hell. That’s some pretty strong language! And the Apostle Paul feels so strongly about that, that he says it twice in this section of the Bible.

Paul knew that he wouldn’t be popular for telling those people the truth about “good person theology.” But he wasn’t trying to win a popularity contest. In verse 10, he tells them that he wasn’t trying to win man’s approval. He’s more concerned about God’s approval.

We see here that Paul treats this false teaching as a very very big deal. In our culture today, false teachings about how to get to heaven are considered not to be a big deal. Whatever you believe about how to get to heaven is fine. And whatever I believe about how to get to heaven is fine. It really doesn’t matter - they’re both different, and they’re both OK. Everything is fine. That’s why “good person theology” is so prevalent, even among professed Christians, in our world today. There may even be some here at Beautiful Savior – I pray not – that believe that trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation is not enough. You also need to be a good person and earn it.

Why is this idea so popular? There are all kinds of reasons. Earning our salvation appeals to our pride. It makes us feel empowered, in control of our eternal destinies. We naturally prefer to rely on ourselves rather than on someone else. “Good person theology” appeals to us because it also makes us feel like we’re more a part of the world – if the rest of the world believes it, then I do too. And that’s politically correct. But theologically, it’s wrong.

My friends, “good person theology” has the potential to destroy your faith. What if I were to take a gallon of water, and put one drop of arsenic into it. It’s only one drop, in a whole gallon of water – not a big deal! And yet, that one drop would poison all of that water – it would be undrinkable. And so it is with “good person theology” – one little drop of that into your heart, into your way of thinking, into your faith, and everything is poisoned. Before you know it, you’re trusting in your own good works for salvation, and forgetting about Jesus.

Have you ever bought into “good person theology”? Have you ever promoted it? When you agree with others in that, even just a little, because we want their approval, then you are guilty too. And just as Paul says here to the Galatians, so he says to you, that you also deserve to be eternally condemned.

But we aren’t, are we. Instead, we are eternally forgiven! Did you know, that in some cultures, especially in centuries past, that would hang a sign around a condemned criminal’s neck? That sign would say “condemned” and then list the crimes that criminal committed. They would march that condemned person through the town as he wore his “condemned” sign around his neck, and then they would execute the person.