Galatians 1:6

Galatians 1:6 says, I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Paul said he marveled at how quickly those who claimed to follow Christ had started to follow another gospel.  We are not told exactly what that gospel was, but it must have been something based on salvation other than through faith in Christ.  If we are real followers of Christ, we can never allow false teachings to enter into our relationship with Christ.  Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and Lord can be the only gospel we proclaim.  If anyone attempts to add to or take away from that, then we need to avoid them at the least or attempt to correct them at the most.  If we are so easily and quickly removed from following the gospel of Christ, then we most likely never accepted its truth to start with.  I believe that if we fully accept the gospel that we will not only never be easily moved away from it, but that we cannot even be forcibly removed from the gospel.  This is not because of our strength, but because of God's promise that nothing can take away those who are His.  Verse seven adds, Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  Paul said that what was being presented was not really another gospel as such but was instead a perversion of the true gospel.  There are those today who attempt to add to or take away from the gospel.  When we hear anyone teach that more is required for salvation than accepting the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as the only way to salvation, we need to stand firm in our faith.  There are religions today based on a perversion of the gospel, and many who had professed to be followers of Christ are drawn away from Him to follow these false gospels.  I believe that if we are truly saved by putting our faith in the sacrifice of Christ that we will never be led away from this truth, quickly or easily nor slowly and with great difficulty.  Verse eight continues, But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  Paul said that even if an angel from heaven proclaimed any other gospel than Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and Lord, let him be accursed.  There are those today who follow what is supposedly a clarification of the gospel dictated by an angel, but as Paul said those who proclaim this clarified gospel should be accursed.  This is because they keep people away from accepting the only gospel that ever was or ever will be.  Verse nine states, As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Paul said it was worth repeating that if anyone proclaimed any gospel other than the gospel of Christ that person should be accursed.  Through Christ is the only way to redemption with God.  The very fact that a person rejects Christ brings condemnation, so how much greater would be the condemnation of someone who led others away from that truth.  Verse ten adds, For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.  Paul said he was not proclaiming Christ to please people, but to please God.  He also said if he were living to please other people that he would not be a servant of God.  Paul had lived to please others, and from the point of view of the world, he was much better off.  No one was trying to arrest or kill him.  We cannot serve God for material reasons but must serve Him because we are His by faith no matter what happens. Verse eleven continues, But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  Like Paul, we must acknowledge that the gospel is not of man.  The gospel of Christ is God's redemption plan, and it is the only one.  Verse twelve concludes, For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Paul did receive the gospel directly by the revelation of God.  No matter how we hear the gospel, we accept it by a revelation of its truth from God.  We accept the gospel by faith, and even that is given to us by God.