But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. – Galatians 1:8
Scripture reading: Galatians 1:1–9
Paul had gone to the region of Galatia, located now in northwestern Turkey, to preach the Gospel. The Lord blessed his ministry and a Church was born based on the proclamation of salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
After Paul’s departure, some false teachers came to the Galatian churches claiming that Paul’s work was unfinished and that church members still needed to observe the requirements of the Mosaic Law. When the news of these “Judaizers” reached Paul, he was greatly displeased since the very heart of the Gospel was denied. This led the Apostle to write a very strong condemnation of the heretical teachers. There is only one Gospel and it cannot be amended or revised, not even by an angel from heaven! The teachings of the Old Testament and of the Lord Jesus Christ clearly testified that the justification of the sinner was a gift of God; it cannot be earned or merited by man’s so-called “good works.”
Unfortunately, throughout the history of the Church, the pure Gospel of Christ was distorted. God raised Reformers like Savonarola, John Huss and Wycliffe, who called the Church to reaffirm the Biblical Gospel. In October of 2017, we celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation that was launched by Martin Luther. As we contemplate the state of the Church, we see the need for another Reformation that would reaffirm the supreme and final authority of the Bible and God’s sovereign grace in the salvation of sinful men and women.
Suggestions for prayer
Pray that God would raise Reformers who would boldly proclaim the “Whole Counsel of God” as Paul did in his missionary career!
This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Bassam Michael Madany has served as a missionary in Syria, and in 1958 he began a 36-year radio and literature ministry to the Arab world. After retirement Bassam & his wife Shirley began an Internet ministry, Middle East Resources, to provide a “Christian Response to the Global Challenge of Islam.”
