6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ 7 and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8-9 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11-12 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:6-12 English Standard Version

What is an important truth about those who respond to the gospel message that we can learn from vs 6?

I would suggest that it can easily be lost on the hearers, and that new believers need much care and prayer in the early stages of their faith. The Lord Jesus gave us a good picture of this when He spoke of how easily seed that was sown can be snatched away by birds, have no depth of soil to take root, or be choked by weeds. What was causing some who'd received the gospel in the region of Galatia to be drifting away from the gospel? (vs 7)

There were people who were distorting the gospel message and teaching a totally different way to being saved from sin. As we go through this letter we will learn a bit more of what the false teachers were saying. But the important point here is that just as some snake poisons can act very quickly, so too false teaching can swiftly lead to people being deceived. What do vs 8-9 show us concerning such a situation?

Just as poisonous substances need strong warning labels, so false teaching is never to be treated lightly. Paul's mention of angels has proved prophetic. Over the centuries some of the false teaching that distorted the true gospel came from people who claimed that angels had revealed things to them. One example was the man Joseph Smith, who claimed that an angel named Moroni had shown him golden plates with a message from God. It led to the false teachings of the 'Church of Latter Day saints', known more commonly as Mormons.

What is another important point Paul makes about the true gospel in vs 11-12?

The true gospel is the one that Jesus passed on to those who were called 'the apostles'. That included the well known ones such as Peter and John, but Paul was added to their number when Jesus appeared to him personally in a dramatic vision. The true gospel originates from Jesus Christ and is not to be confused with any man made messages. Which leads us to the very important point Paul makes in vs 10. What does that verse suggest concerning why people distort the gospel in the first place?

It seems that some people twist the Bible's teaching in order to make it more ‘acceptable’ to their hearers. Paul put this in another way in a letter to his friend Timothy when he warned that a time would come when people “would not endure sound teaching - but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4) The question then is – will we stand firm and cling to the true gospel, or will we give way so that we can remain popular with people's opinions? Sadly, we are seeing whole denominations in our generation who are trying to please men rather than God.

But listen to how Paul and his co-workers went about preaching. He said “Our appeal doesn't spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery.” (1Thessalonians 2:3-5) May that ever be true of us when we have opportunity to tell God’s gospel to others.