Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–
Galatians 1:7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Paul is shocked. He is awestruck. The saints who cared for him, and had accepted him in their homes, willingly giving their time and talent due to the good news of Jesus that he brought them, were walking away from Jesus.
Walking away from the One who had called them into the grace of Christ.
Now it goes without saying that the passage speaks of God doing the calling, and not Paul himself, for their desertion may be from Paul’s gospel, but that meant the desertion was from the subject of Paul’s gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ also.
This desertion, or walking away may be defined as a removal, or a translation from one spot to another, a change. Paul is claiming these believers were in the process of being removed from the grace of Christ. But note that this isn’t due to persecution or to apathy, but by some person in the church who sought to trouble them (vs 7). It is by the teaching of these troublemakers that the believers are choosing to desert the One who called them to His side.
This is a decision these believers were making, a decision to reject the message provided by the gospel preacher and apostle, choosing to listen to those who speak contrary to the truth. True, they were being tempted with “new” teachings, but to start to succumb to the enticement of the message so quickly? How could this be?
In all of this, do they not hear the truth Paul spoke to them? Is their memory that faulty? Do they not have the privilege of remembering Paul’s passion, his love, his message of a crucified Savior, of a life of faith and not of works, providing them approach freely before a holy God?
For us today, we have multitudinous teachers in the “church”, troubling us with destructive doctrines, tempting us with worldly teaching, depending on personal experiences that cannot be verified, or teachings of religions that depend on the wisdom of man. My brother or sister, cling to the Word of God and it’s message, cling to the guiding Spirit of God and cling to the quiet Voice that guides true believers.
Having heard the truth does not allow us to venture off looking for different truths. Danger! Danger! The truth is a Person, the Lord Jesus. Religions will use Him for their purpose, but beware of those who do not walk as He did.
Remember that He stepped down in order to lift you up. He died in order that we may live. His people are to mimic this life of self denial for the sake of others. Any teacher that elevates himself over you, demands something from you, or departs from the Word of God is to be avoided like a plague.
Why allow yourself to be tempted to desert the One who loves you? Don’t walk away from Him!
It makes no sense! It is quite simply “Shocking”.
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