Marvin L. Weir
The apostle Paul was “set for the defence of the gospel” (Phil. 1:16, ASV; v. 17, KJV). If necessary, he was willing to die for the gospel. A Roman prison could not chill Paul’s affection for God’s glorious truth. Paul does not represent the wisdom of men but is an apostle—a spokesman for God! To the Galatians he wrote, “Paul, an apostle not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” (Gal. 1:1).
Paul did not intend to stand by and see the soul-saving gospel of Christ perverted. Thus, he was quick to say to the Galatians,
I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema (Gal. 1:6-9).
Notice that Paul clearly states that some were following a different gospel which is not another gospel. There is only one gospel, and it is precious because there is no other so-called gospel that can save a person from his sins!
As a faithful follower of Christ, Paul was dedicated to the one and only gospel. Such being the case, he did not “tone down” the gospel while seeking the favor of men (Gal. 1:10). Paul knew that he could not have a divided allegiance and the blessings of Almighty God. So many people want both and such is an impossibility.
Thus, Paul made the choice to be a faithful servant of the Savior. We must also decide whose servant we will be. The courage of Joshua is sorely needed today:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah (Josh. 24:15).
Jesus never left the impression that one can be loyal to two opposing causes. In fact, the Master said, “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24). May our love for God be such that we will gladly make the same decisions that Paul and Joshua made.
The gospel is powerful! The writer of Hebrews declares, “For the word of God is living,
and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). The gospel is not a dead letter as false teachers would have one to believe, but is alive and capable of piercing the soul and convicting the conscience. So many religious pied-pipers today offer people the thoughts of men when what is needed is the Word of God. To the Philippians Paul said that he was “holding forth the word of life” (Phil. 2:16). The apostle Peter wrote: “But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:25). We should be impressed with the fact that God’s Word is not dead, will never die, and will never pass away!
Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). This is but another reason that the gospel is so very precious and powerful. There is no other power to save man from sin! So many have trodden under foot or cast aside the gospel. Others have added to the gospel or subtracted from the gospel, and it is no longer the gospel. When will people learn that a gospel or some gospel is not the gospel delivered to men by divine inspiration (2 Pet. 1:20-21)? The Word of God (the gospel) is powerful and fully capable of saving one’s soul from the bondage of sin.
The Word of God is always right! The Psalmist said, “The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever” (Psa. 119:160). Paul told the Galatians that he had presented them with “the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:5). “Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, (then) are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). Every person deserves the opportunity to hear the soul saving truth of the gospel! They may reject it and be lost, but believing a watered down version of the gospel surely will not save them. Jesus emphasized the fact that God’s Word was truth
(John 17:17). Paul said to the Thessalonians, “And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).
Yes, the glorious gospel is precious, powerful, and true. May we be inclined to proclaim it at every opportunity! Let us do as did the apostle Paul and be “set for the defence of the gospel” (Phil. 1:16 (ASV; v. 17, KJV). May those who have not done so be privileged to hear it and obey it. All people would do well to keep in mind that the gospel is not the word of man but the Word of God that will judge all mankind in that Day (John 12:48)!
May all take care to hear the Lord’s warning in saying, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15). May all have the attitude of the Bereans who “were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11)!
