NPC MediaClinging to the One True Good News
I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”; and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
The Apostle Paul was truly astonished. He wrote to the believers in Galatia, "I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”; and there isn’t another “good news.”" What could make an apostle so surprised? It was the Galatians turning away from the pure, simple truth of God's grace in Christ to a message that looked like good news, but truly was not. Paul knew that any teaching suggesting another way to God, another path to blessing, or another means of salvation besides Christ's finished work, was a dangerous distortion.
This "different “good news”" often takes subtle forms in our lives today. It can lead us to believe that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was not truly enough, or that God's grace needs our extra effort to be effective. For example, some might feel they need to fast in a particular way to compel God to change a situation, or that they must acquire special items prayed for by certain leaders to unlock miracles. Others might be taught they need to sow a specific amount of money as a “seed” to guarantee a blessing from God. These practices, though done with faith, subtly imply that Jesus' perfect work requires an addition from us.
Paul’s warning is incredibly stern because the purity of the Gospel is paramount. He declares, "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed." This isn't just a strong suggestion; it's a divine curse on anyone who dares to tamper with the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Why such a strong warning? Because any teaching that adds conditions or requirements to God's free gift effectively undermines the sufficiency of Jesus' sacrifice.
We are called to cling to the original, unchanging Good News. We don't need to strive to complete what Jesus has already perfected. His death and resurrection accomplished everything needed for our salvation and our walk with Him. God's love and blessings are freely given to us in Christ, not earned through our efforts or purchased through human-made systems. Let us stand firm in the pure, liberating truth that in Jesus, we have all we need, and His sacrifice is entirely sufficient for every aspect of our lives.
Let's Pray
Almighty God, we thank You for the pure and unchanging Good News of Jesus Christ. We are grateful that by Your grace, through faith, we are saved, and that Christ's sacrifice on the cross was truly enough for us. Help us to discern and resist any teaching that seeks to pervert this precious truth or suggests that Your grace is insufficient. Strengthen us to stand firm in the liberating reality that all we need is found in Jesus, not in our own efforts or anything we can buy. May our faith rest solely in Him. Amen.
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