How can we stand firm against false teachings in today's context? Setting the Scene in Galatia “Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.” (Galatians 5:11) Paul is confronting teachers who insisted that Gentile believers add circumcision to the gospel. By refusing to dilute the message, Paul highlights an enduring reality: the true gospel offends human pride because it insists that salvation is God’s work from start to finish. Key Truths Drawn from Galatians 5:11 • False teaching often tries to remove the “offense of the cross.” • Persecution can be a sign that we are holding the line on a pure gospel. • The gospel plus anything is no gospel at all (see Galatians 1:6-9; 5:1). Why False Teachings Thrive Today • They massage the ego—“You can earn this.” • They promise cultural acceptance—“Lose the offense and gain the crowd.” • They twist Scripture just enough to sound biblical (2 Peter 2:1-2). Keeping the Offense of the Cross Central • The cross announces human inability; any message that flatters human effort must be flagged. • Remember: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Know the Whole Counsel of God • Daily intake of Scripture inoculates against half-truths. • “All Scripture is God-breathed… so that the man of God may be complete” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Read entire books, not just favorite verses, to grasp context. Test Every Voice • “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits” (1 John 4:1). • Ask: Does this teaching agree with the clear gospel of grace? • Compare sermons, podcasts, and social posts with Scripture like the Bereans did (Acts 17:11). Guard Your Mind Against Captivity • “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception… rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8). • Watch for ideas packaged in Christian language but rooted in worldly ideologies. Lean on a Gospel-Rooted Community • Isolated believers are easier targets. • Healthy churches practice mutual accountability: shepherds protect, members discern (Ephesians 4:14-15). Walk by the Spirit • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). • The Spirit illuminates Scripture and spotlights error. Contend, Don’t Merely Consume • “Contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints” (Jude 3). • Engage conversations, write, teach, and mentor with conviction seasoned by gentleness. Living It Out This Week • Re-read Galatians 1 and 5, noting every contrast between law-keeping and grace. • Identify one media source to evaluate through a gospel lens. • Memorize Galatians 5:1 to anchor your resolve. Final Encouragement Standing firm means cherishing the very offense that rescues us—the cross of Christ. Hold it high, keep it pure, and let the chips fall where they may. |
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