Galatians 1:6–7
Memory Verse
I marvel thus, that you are so quickly turned from the one who called you by the grace of Christ into a different gospel, which is not the same kind, except there is someone who troubles you and desires to change the gospel of the Christ (Galatians 1:6–7).
The saints in the Galatian region were being influenced by men from Jerusalem who claimed that obedience to the Mosaic law is required for salvation. Their gospel was a message of works and self-effort. Through their different message, they change the gospel of the Christ, causing divisions between Jew and Gentile. In Christ—the new creation in which Christ is the head and the Church is His body (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:22–23)—there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, male or female, free or slave (Romans 10:12).
Today, there are still many within the assemblies who seek to bring in another gospel message: a message that is not the same message of grace, but one of bondage. We are saved by believing that Christ died on behalf of our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. This gospel is a salvation by grace through faith and thus a life lived out from faith, not through law (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:2).
Do not let anyone deceive you—cause you to wander from the truth—in Christ we have freedom to live a life of righteousness that is not based upon personal works but walking by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). It is a life of freedom to live out the righteousness we now posses in Christ as we take each step by the Spirit (Galatians 5:13, 18).