Galatians 1:6-9 Do Not Accept a False Gospel Nor Those Who Preach it, for They Are Accursed of God.

Galatians 1:6-9 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. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

After a warm introduction and greeting to his audience (though Galatians is the only Pauline epistle to lack a thanksgiving section—the reason for this is clear, as the Galatians have left their first love), Paul gets right to the point. He rebukes the Galatians for having deserted, or having turned away from Christ, their first love. Paul approached the Galatian churches as one who truly loves them. Paul knew clearly the need to warn and admonish those in sin (in this case the sin of deadly doctrine) to repent, returning to Christ, as James instructs us, “if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

In the same way, do not let those who are in doctrinal errors remain in them. As Paul exhorts Timothy, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching [NIV: watch your life and doctrine carefully]; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). All doctrine and theological understanding is important. Our understanding of the gospel of Christ Jesus is essential however. If someone misunderstands and misconstrues the gospel of Christ, such a person is in danger of being condemned for such heretical teaching. Therefore, correct those in error about the gospel with urgency.

We have been called to a simple gospel: Jesus Christ died and rose again physically from death; He is Lord and Savior; trust in Him for the judicial imputation of His righteousness and submit to Him as Lord. Anyone who turns from this gospel to any other, whether Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Roman Catholicism’s works based religion, Judaism, or even errant so called “Christian” views, has forsaken Christ and their covenant with God. Correct them with gentleness.

Such a different gospel is really not a different gospel, as Paul explains in verse 7. There is only one good news from God—the Gospel of Christ. Any imitation is dangerous bad news, leading to death rather than life.

The Galatians responded to this distorted gospel favorably, to their own detriment. Learn from the churches of Galatia. Do not follow their example. Rather than accepting a person or a group that preaches a false gospel, we must warn them of the eminent danger in which they are. We should not greet them as fellow heirs in Christ but as outcasts (2 John 9-11), as enemies of Christ and God. Love them as you love any who are of the world: tell them of their sin and of their need of repentance. They are accursed to us; unclean and dangerous wolves.

Does this seem to be harsh treatment of those who may only diverge, at least to the untrained eye, in areas of proper knowledge and affections? This treatment of them is in line with the righteousness of God. There is a reason for treatment those in such contemptible error: they lead captives for Satan away from the truth and the fellowship of the body of Christ. They are accursed (anathema—damned) of God and are to be viewed as such by us as well. Do not pity them, but pray that they may be brought out their unbelief by the Spirit of God to trust in Christ.

No matter if it is a person (such as Joseph Smith or Mary Baker Eddy), an angel (such as appeared to Muhammad or Moroni who appeared to Joseph Smith—and angels truly may have appeared to them “for even Satan disguises [NIV “masquerades”] himself as an angel of light”), or even Paul and his companions (though his true companions did not preach another gospel, but some of Paul’s “companions” fell away) preach another gospel than the complete Lordship of Jesus Christ, do not accept them nor their message. They have been deceived themselves and have had false visions and will preach to those with itching ears (cf. 2 Timothy 4:3-4). This is of such great significance that Paul reiterates his warning to his audience to count them as accursed. Do not mess around with them. Rather, show them the truth and pray for them. Leave the rest up to God.