No Other Gospel

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Galatians 1:10-11: 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. For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me in not man's gospel.

One thing that you can say about Paul, the servant of God, is that he doesn't mince words. Paul is "all in for God." It's either one or the other. There is no blending. There is no "both/and" when it comes to whose approval you want.

Are you for Yourself?
Do you do things that will please yourself or others? Of course you do. You wouldn't be human if you didn't.

Do you want to please other people? Do you want to "get along" with others? Again, of course you do. You wouldn't be human if you didn't.

And, if that were the case, you wouldn't be pleasing God. You wouldn't be focused on God's will for your life. You wouldn't have a desire to glorify God with your life.

Are you for God?
Do you do things that you know honor God? Do you follow His ways above the ways of people? Do you serve God with your life? When you are, you are not living your life satisfying the ways of people. 

You Can't Be Both:
As Christians, we realize that we there are two distinct "persons" inside us. The one "person" focuses on being human. That means being focused on things that "make me happy." We are a self gratifying race.

The other "person" is about living our lives in accordance with the grace of God and honoring Him in all that we do. Whatever we do, we do in service to God so that people see Him in our lives. And it is the second "person" who realizes that we can't be both.

Which Way Do We Go?
Every Christian is in this situation. And what helps us in this situation is the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. For it is in the Word of God that we realize that we are sinners, as early as conception. Our lives are focused on "evil all the time." The Word of God also tells us that we are saved from ourselves by means of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We are promised an eternal life with Him through His ascension. The Holy Spirit through His Word who teaches us, shares with us, and convicts us of sin and then leads us to the Cross of Jesus Christ. 

So follow the lead of the Spirit to follow the ways of God more fully. When you follow your humans ways, realize it, confess it, and repent of it. Then trust God more fully and live in His grace.

And when people see you living an "alternative life" of Grace and mercy from Christ, they will want to know why. Then you can share your life with God. You can say, "I follow Christ."

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