I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

First Century New Gospel

Truth is older than error but from the deception of Eve, the devil has always presented an alternative path of truth. The first words of Satan are, “Has God indeed said.” Noah’s world was destroyed because men followed a different path than the word of God. Israel was shattered from following after the gods of the nations around them with only a remnant returning from long captivity. Jesus came to establish the kingdom of His Father and the early church had great success in saving souls. It would not be long before the wiles of Satan would enter the church with lying, prejudice, abuse, and false doctrine. The church at Corinth faced many problems as an example of how easy it was for the church to be corrupted with carnality, immorality, division, disrespect, and a host of problems. It is suggested Paul wrote his letter to the churches of Galatia during his third preaching trip as they were dealing with a false gospel permeating the people of God. He begins his letter with the problem of the Christians following after a different gospel than what he had preached to them. It seemed to happen quickly.

Accepting a new gospel is to turn away from the grace of God. Paul and others had preached a single gospel with a unity of purpose, design, and content. What one man preached in Judea would be the same gospel preached in Asia Minor or Greece or Rome. The gospel had not changed but men corrupted the message to fit their needs and carnal desires. Failing to preach the original gospel perverted the cause of Jesus Christ to a doctrine that was not divine. It shocked Paul how easily the brethren were persuaded to follow in a different way. Preaching a different and new gospel is troubling as men deliberately twist the truth concerning Jesus Christ. This was done to please men and to persuade men with the carnal nature of human wisdom. Audiences would be more receptive to preaching that tickled their ears and fancied their minds with more appealing messages. A new gospel had begun early in the infant church.

There is one body of truth and that doctrine is the narrow truth of God’s word. Paul never accepted the teachings of men as acceptable because it would bring in more crowds or have less cause to offend others. The preaching of the apostle was plain, truthful, and according to the word of the Lord. It would cause many to become angry and in one city bring about a mob taking Paul out and stoning him almost to death. Eventually, Paul would be executed for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. It should come as no surprise of the stinging rebuke given by the Holy Spirit of those who would teach a new gospel. Twice in his beginning exhortation to the churches of Galatia, Paul says that if any man or angel from heaven preaches any new gospel or different message than what was preached; they are to be accursed. The Greek word is ANATHEMA and is the strongest use of the word to emphasize the serious nature of preaching another gospel. To do so would nullify the death of Jesus Christ.

A new gospel is not a new gospel but a corrupted perversion of the only way, the only truth, and the only life. The new gospel of modern religion has veiled the eyes of disciples who believe in a gospel that cannot be found in the word of God. To blindly follow the teachings of men who have changed the glory of God to please themselves is a curse. The Bible has been given to all people to read and understand and know the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. No man can stand before the Lord in judgment and claim ignorance but only a spirit of defiance to reject the one gospel. This gospel of Jesus Christ is two thousand years old and has remained unchanged. Do not let anyone turn your heart away to a gospel that you cannot find in the word of God. Many want to trouble you and pervert the gospel of Christ. You be the student and you follow the truth. Give me the old paths of first-century gospel truth.