Galatians 1:6-7, Amplified Bible

“I am astonished and extremely irritated that you are so quickly shifting your allegiance and deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different [even contrary] gospel; which is really not another [gospel]; but there are [obviously] some [people masquerading as teachers] who are disturbing and confusing you [with a misleading, counterfeit teaching] and want to distort the gospel of Christ [twisting it into something which it absolutely is not].”

Are there people masquerading as teachers with a misleading, counterfeit teaching, and twisting the gospel, the good news, into something which it absolutely is not? If there are, do they know that they are deceiving? I could not answer this question, only the Lord knows their heart and searches their minds. However, I know the seriousness of the statement. Listen to what the Word’s warning:

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19, ESV)

“But even if we or an angel out of heaven should preach a gospel to you contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed! As we have said before, even now I say again: If anyone is preaching a gospel to you contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8-9, BLB)

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NIV)

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions.” (1 Timony 6:3-4, ESV)

“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21, ESV)

We all called to share the gospel of Christ, His good news! We will all be held accountable of sharing the truth, the truth that Jesus is the Truth, the Life, and the Way. (John 14:6) He is the only cure, and salvation does not require Jesus plus anything else. Instead, it is through Him and Him alone! Obedience and the Holy Spirit is not a plus, but the evidence of the love of Christ, the love for Christ, and that we belong to Him! Any teaching that implies that Jesus is not enough is fundamentally mistaken!

Take heed to the word: “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9, ESV)