It Seems A Light Matter to Mix Gospel With ________________ !

Galatians 1:6–7 (NIV),

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Luther would want us to discern the tone of the Apostle's concern.  There's a parental concern rather than a mean, vindictive lashing.   "He might have handled the Galatians more uncourteously, and have inveighed against them more roughly after this manner: Out upon this backsliding, I am ashamed of you, your unthankfulness grieveth me, I am angry with you." [1]  

Paul is taken back by how soon these assaults on the Gospel have come and how soon the Churches were falling prey to the false doctrine. "Since that Paul therefore by his own experience may teach us, that congregations which are won by great labour, are easily and soon overthrown, we ought with singular care to watch against the devil ranging everywhere, lest he come while we sleep, and sow tares among the wheat." [1]

The first and most important concern is that these believes are "moving away," "deserting."  The Greek is μετατίθημι [met·at·ith·ay·mee/] which generally infers a change from one place to another place. But Paul's explanation doesn't go to a place, but a Person.  To withdraw from the Gospel is to withdraw from Christ. "Alas how lightly do you suffer yourselves to be withdrawn and removed from Christ, which hath called you, not as Moses did, to the law, works, sin, wrath and damnation, but altogether to grace!" [1]

This is in fact another Gospel, which is no gospel. These people were perverting the Gospel.  Luther writes, "Mark here diligently, that every teacher of works and of the righteousness of the law, is a troubler of the Church and of the consciences of men . . . Now, the cause why he setteth himself so sharply against them, calling them the troublers of the churches, is for that besides faith in Christ, they taught that circumcision and keeping of the law was necessary to salvation." [1]

Here's the point: "It seemeth to be a light matter to mingle the law and the Gospel, faith and works, together; but it doth more mischief than a man’s reason can conceive, for it doth not only blemish and darken the knowledge of grace, but also it taketh away Christ with all his benefits, and it utterly overthroweth the Gospel, as Paul saith in this place." [1]

What a dire warning to us today.  We do not add sacraments as some would.  We do not add works and obedience as some would.  We do not add second works of grace or fanatical experiences as some would.  It is solus Christus.

Father we see that any adding to the Gospel of Your free grace, the Gospel of Jesus Christ moves us from the true Gospel and from the true faith; but it also removes us from the true and genuine Christ.  Now I see why Paul marveled about this.  Now I see Paul's concern.  We cannot tweek, we cannot amend, we cannot re-frame the true Gospel.  It stands sufficient and complete even as our Lord is perfect.  This is His Gospel. What God has joined let no one tear apart. Father today I set my feet on faith alone in Christ alone and yet even as I pray this way I realize that I cannot establish that any more than I can save myself.  So I pray, Father, establish my heart firmly in the truth of the Gospel, the truth of Christ alone. For His glory and fame. 

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1.  Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 1:6). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.