Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 1:6-9.
“6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 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! 9 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!” Galatians 1:6-9.
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This Scripture refers to “a different gospel”, and this Scripture recognizes such a danger of it that it pronounces a curse on those who would dare preach it. Many are eager to claim that they preach Christ and present the true gospel according to the Word of God. But, it may be “a different gospel”. There are many false preachers and teachers. As Calvin stated in his Commentary to Galatians 1:6-9: “
To know what are the leading points of the gospel, is a matter of unceasing importance. When these are attacked, the gospel is destroyed.” Here is a link to the full Calvin’s Commentary on this Scripture –
Click here: Commentary on Galatians and Ephesians – Christian Classics Ethereal Library
As stated in my Reformed Doctrine tag above:
“In recent years, we have witnessed the explosion in growth of nondenominational churches under such labels as community churches, fellowships, and mega-churches. Some of these churches are not only rejecting denominational standards, they are also rejecting or ignoring well-established doctrinal standards as well. And, even some of the denominational churches are also rejecting or minimizing the importance of doctrinal standards as well. Some of these churches primarily market themselves to seekers who want to feel good without truth or doctrinal restraints. Even though doctrine is simply defined as “teachings”, some of these nondenominational churches, and even some denominational churches, portray doctrine as unnecessary, divisive, or worse.
However, doctrine cannot be avoided unless a preacher or teacher just quotes Scripture without making any summary or other comment. We need to determine how important is truth. We need to determine how important is sound doctrine. We need to determine which doctrine of salvation is best supported by Scripture. We need to determine how important it is to believe and teach the true doctrine of salvation.
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In conclusion, Scripture keeps coming back to the importance of truth.
Jesus said both in Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7: ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
Jesus also stated in John 4:23-24: “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. ”God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Jesus also stated in John 16:13: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; …”
On the other hand, there are those who “did not receive the love of truth so as to be saved”. 2 Thessalonians 2: 10-13.
Truth and doctrine are supremely important; failing to believe the truth can be evidence that one is not saved (“worshiping God in vain”). Truth is revealed by Scripture, not by our feelings as to what is just and true.
Scripture reveals the truth that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from unconditional election through limited atonement through irresistible grace through preservation of the saints.
This true doctrine of salvation is summarized by “TULIP“, which is the Five Points of Calvinism and which is Reformed Doctrine and more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called The Canons of Dordt. (A link to Canons of Dordt is in the right column under “Links”).”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 