Man’s gospel is not God’s gospel. Be careful to know the difference. Moving forward Paul is clear that the gospel he teaches is not from the false teachers, but only from God. In Galatians 1:11, Paul writes to the Galatians, “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.” God and God alone has given him the Truth. Paul again is asserting that he was given authority by God. He wants them to know it is counter to what man would have them believe. While on the surface it may seem easier to be saved by grace and not works as the false teachers were trying to get them to believe, the gospel Paul is teaching is a harder truth and more difficult path. The Truth of the gospel is nothing that could have been conceived by man. Based on what they were believing in they were having a hard time letting go of old customs and living in the freedom of Christ’s grace. 

It is easy for us to get sucked into the world view of Christianity. There is a desire to add to the gospel as “Jesus and”. Our minds may still have a hard time, even after conversion, believing it is “Jesus alone.” Ultimately, we are under Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Our spirit entwined along with His Spirit fully understands that it is a life lived by faith alone, but also knowing that faith is not alone. We see the proof of this in our spirit’s desire is to obey His commands. This, however, is where a pure desire from Christians could become a heresy to those who only identify with Christianity as their religion.

Consider a person who identifies with the Christian faith. On the outside they look the part, and they even feel the part. They are a part of everything Christian: church, service to others, they give offerings and read the Bible. They pray and wear a cross on their neck. They are in with God, right? Interestingly even if they have all the right check boxes checked, the one that is the most important is the Holy Spirit. If that person is not truly saved, the Holy Spirit will not be actually guiding their steps. Their hearts desire would not be to please Jesus in full. The motive behind their obedience is like gross used diapers to God. In essence and in reality, their “good deeds” are considered worse to God than if they did nothing. 

On the other hand, a truly saved person, filled with the Holy Spirit, cannot wait to fulfill the desires of God. Yes, our flesh scratches at the surface often, but the Holy Spirit trumps all. We ultimately desire God’s will above our own. A life lived in step with the Holy Spirit is a life honoring to God. A life that becomes angry at a lack of respect toward Jesus and cannot bear to see Him slandered is a life honoring to God. A life lived with conviction to learn more about Christ and to be ever more sanctified month by month, year by year is a life honoring to God. A life truly lived with a desire to be an ambassador to God and not to self, to glorify God and not self, to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” is a life honoring to God. 

Honor God my friend. Pray that God would reveal Himself to you. Pray for wisdom to do His will. Pray for more faith. Pray for more of His Holy Spirit to guide and protect your steps. Man’s gospel is not God’s. Man is fallible. If you want to be certain you are not believing in the wrong gospel, you only have but one thing to do: read the entire Bible, cover to cover, as often as you can.