The Priority of the Gospel 2.0

Galatians 1:6-10

July 5, 2026

Jody Robertson

Paul has stated the Gospel message in verses 1-5. In our text today, he is very concerned about how some have perverted the Gospel message by adding to it, namely that one must also obey the Old Testament law. True, we are to do good works, but they do not add to our salvation.

In verse six, he asserts that those people have deserted Jesus. In verse seven, he says that they are confused. Further, they have exchanged light for darkness. He emphatically states in verse eight and repeats in verse nine that God should forever curse them!

We can understand why they did this because we, too, live in a meritorious world. You earn what you get. But salvation is entirely a gift. That is made clear in the salvation message of Ephesians 2:8,9. Verse seven makes it clear that when something is added to the Gospel message, it is no longer the Gospel. It is no longer “good news.” The statements of the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4, Romans 1:15-19, and John 3:16 all make clear that salvation is strictly a gift.

Verse ten notes that people like hearing a message about what we can do to obtain salvation. That makes it very tempting for teachers to try to please them by teaching a works salvation. Such teachers might give eloquent messages about their so-called gospel. But Paul, not an eloquent speaker (e.g., 1 Corinthians 2:1-4), gave the simple truth of the Gospel. The message is much more important than the messenger.

1 Corinthians 1:18, 23, 24 note that the message of the cross is nonsense to many people. It is a fundamental barrier to belief for them. However, it is the way of the Lord. Note that while one can give without loving, one cannot love without giving. God loves us so much that He was even willing to give Jesus on the cross.

One does not need extensive knowledge of the Gospel message to share it with others. In John 9, Jesus gave sight to a man born blind. When he was asked who healed him, all he could say was, “I was blind, but now I see.” And that was all he needed to say.

Elton Nelson