“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Gal. 1:6, 7)

What has happened to the churches in Galatia? Something is terribly wrong that Paul would use the word amazed in the negative. Not just surprised, but amazed. Whatever it is must be off the charts. Something unbelievable has occurred among the churches in that area.

They are deserting God. Yes, that is amazing. Those who have been saved by God’s son are now deserting Him. We usually read this verse as they were changing gospels and teaching something different in terms of how they were saved. Paul says that in accepting a different teaching they were deserting God. 

To think that a church today would claim to follow Jesus and yet be seen as deserting God would certainly seem strange to us. But, the fact is, many churches have changed the gospel, the good news of how God saves, to something that better suits their personal belief. Distorting the gospel is serious business. 

What was the gospel that Paul had taught? 

      That God came to earth as a man and died on the cross, paying the penalty of sin by suffering the pain of sin.

     That those who believe that Jesus was God’s son and that He did pay the price by suffering himself.

     That repentance was necessary for God to forgive them.

     That confessing Jesus by mouth and life was also necessary for God to forgive them.

     That allowing God to recreate them by being immersed in water symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was also necessary for God to forgive them.

     That doing these things and living the new life in Christ would result in their being added to God’s kingdom on earth and provide them entrance to the heavenly kingdom.

This is what the Bible teaches and what Paul preached. One changes the Word of God at their own peril.

Task for Today: Search the scripture, especially the words of Jesus on the subject and the writing of Paul on the subject. Don’t be swayed by what men say. Their words often are cause of amazement. Do what Jesus teaches and what Paul taught (they are the same) and you will be blessed. Which gospel you believe does matter.